Amid ‘Satluj’ row, Paramjit Kaur Khalra urges Sri Akal Takht Sahib to form People’s Commission on Punjab’s disappearances
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, July 13, 2026: Amid renewed public attention on the legacy of slain human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra following the controversy surrounding the film ‘Satluj’ (formerly Punjab ‘95’), his wife Paramjit Kaur Khalra has urged the Sri Akal Takht Sahib to constitute a People’s Commission to establish the truth about Punjab’s enforced disappearances, unidentified cremations and alleged fake police encounters during the 1980s and 1990s.
Her appeal comes ahead of the Ardas ceremony at Harike Pattan on July 14, called by the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib to remember victims of Punjab’s militancy era and those whose bodies were allegedly cremated as unidentified.
In a statement issued on Monday, Paramjit Kaur Khalra appealed to the people of Punjab, the global Sikh community and all those committed to human rights and justice to participate in the Ardas and join the collective search for truth and accountability.
“The military attack on Sri Darbar Sahib in June 1984, the anti-Sikh violence of November 1984, and the unidentified bodies, torture and thousands of alleged fake police encounters in the years that followed still demand accountability and justice,” she said.
She alleged that successive governments had failed to ensure justice for victims’ families and claimed that, instead of holding those responsible accountable, different governments had extended legal or administrative support to police officers accused in human rights violation cases while survivors continued to face prolonged legal and financial hardship.
She also criticised the present Punjab Government, alleging that it had failed to bring accused police personnel to justice. Referring to recent international developments, she also mentioned allegations made against the Union Government regarding incidents involving Sikhs abroad.
Three Demands Before Sri Akal Takht Sahib
Addressing the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Paramjit Kaur Khalra urged the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs to lead efforts for truth and justice by initiating three key measures.
She called for the constitution of an independent People’s Commission to determine the actual number of persons who disappeared, were allegedly killed in fake encounters or were cremated as unidentified during Punjab’s militancy years.
She also sought recognition for the unidentified victims whose identities, she said, were uncovered through the efforts and sacrifice of Jaswant Singh Khalra by giving them a rightful place in the Central Sikh Museum.
Further, she appealed to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) to provide financial assistance to families affected by enforced disappearances and alleged human rights violations.
Stressing that no political party or individual should be above accountability, Khalra said those responsible for human rights violations, denying justice or concealing the truth should be held answerable before the people.
She also urged that the memories of the victims and what she described as the Sikh community’s “third holocaust” should not be used for political purposes but instead become the basis for seeking truth, accountability and justice.
The Ardas at Harike Pattan, where unidentified bodies were allegedly disposed of during Punjab’s militancy period, has been convened by the Jathedar of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and is expected to be attended by members of the Sikh community, families of victims and human rights advocates.