| Revision as of 17:23, 13 December 2008 editRoadahead (talk | contribs)Rollbackers1,543 edits Undid revision 257668496 by Satanoid (talk) claim? adding to support your POV?← Previous edit | Revision as of 18:17, 13 December 2008 edit undoSatanoid (talk | contribs)691 edits He had political opponents that included terroristsNext edit → | ||
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| '''Kanwar Pal Singh Gill''' is retired ]n police officer, author, and sports administrator. Under his lead, the ] successfully brought the ] under control in the 1990s. Gill got involved in sports administration after retirement from police and was the President of the ], but a corruption episode in 2008 resulted in his unceremonial sacking and dissolution of ]<ref name=autogenerated1></ref><ref name=autogenerated4></ref><ref name=autogenerated3></ref>. Gill is a controversial figure; he was found guilty of harassment<ref name=autogenerated5></ref><ref name=autogenerated6></ref><ref name=autogenerated2></ref>, he is often blamed for the downfall of ], and his police forces have been accused of adopting excessive measures during the Punjab insurgency. | '''Kanwar Pal Singh Gill''' is retired ]n police officer, author, and sports administrator. Under his lead, the ] successfully brought the terrorism and ] under control in the 1990s. Gill got involved in sports administration after retirement from police and was the President of the ], but a corruption episode in 2008 resulted in his unceremonial sacking and dissolution of ]<ref name=autogenerated1></ref><ref name=autogenerated4></ref><ref name=autogenerated3></ref>. Gill is a controversial figure; he was found guilty of harassment<ref name=autogenerated5></ref><ref name=autogenerated6></ref><ref name=autogenerated2></ref>, he is often blamed for the downfall of ], and his police forces have been accused of adopting excessive measures during the Punjab insurgency. | ||
| ==Police career== | ==Police career== | ||
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| ==Criminal charges and other allegations== | ==Criminal charges and other allegations== | ||
| === Punjab insurgency === | === Punjab insurgency === | ||
| Some |
Some political activists have alleged that under KPS Gill, the ] killed thousands of suspects in staged shootouts, and cremated or disposed thousands of bodies without proper identification or post-mortem.<ref></ref><ref></ref><ref>http://www.indiatogether.org/2003/jun/hrt-missing.htm</ref><ref></ref> | ||
| {{Original research|date=July 2008}} | |||
| Sikh author ] believed that Gill saved The Sikhs and Punjabis for India<ref>http://sikhtimes.com/news_101604a.html</ref>. He came out as a hero for India but some others describe him as a wanton killer. | |||
| Sikh author ] believed that Gill saved The Sikhs and Punjabis for India<ref>http://sikhtimes.com/news_101604a.html</ref>. However, later Khushwant Singh went volte-face on his views after reading the human rights violations under Gill's command<ref name="KSreview">{{cite news | last = Singh |first = Khushwant | title = K. P. S. Gill you have questions to answer| work =| pages =| language = English| publisher = The Hindustan Times| date = 2003-06-20| url =| accessdate = }}</ref> <ref name="ChangingKS">{{Citation | last1 = Singh | first1 = Baldev | title = Changing Interpretation of Khushwant Singh| newspaper = Sikh Spectrum Quarterly| issue=15| date = February, 2004| year =2004| url = http://www.sikhspectrum.com/052004/khushwant_7.htm }}</ref>. Khushwant Singh is said to have remarked on the findings of human rights organizations and on Gill's calling their findings "rubbish" as follows - ''"It is spine-chilling.... Well, Mr Gill, it is not rubbish; you and the Punjab police have quite a few awkward questions to answer"''<ref name="KSreview"/>. | |||
| In his book, ''Punjab: The Knights of Falsehood'', Gill states: "Democracy and liberalism are not a sufficient defence and this is a fact that the ideologues of ‘freedom’ need, equally, to comprehend. There is a fatal flaw in the liberal mind. Having established, in structure and form , a system of governance that corresponds to its conception of democracy, it feels that nothing more needs to be done. The ‘Truths’ of the liberal ideology are, as the American Declaration on the Rights of Man expresses it, ‘Self Evident’. They require no proof, no reiteration, and no defence - certainly no defence by force of arms. Once democracy is established, according to liberal mythology, the mystical ‘invisible hand’ keeps everything in place; the ‘superior wisdom of the masses’ ensures order and justice... This is just so much rubbish. As we should know after living with falsehoods for fifty years now. Truth does not triumph; unless it has champions to propound it, unless it has armies to defend it." | In his book, ''Punjab: The Knights of Falsehood'', Gill states: "Democracy and liberalism are not a sufficient defence and this is a fact that the ideologues of ‘freedom’ need, equally, to comprehend. There is a fatal flaw in the liberal mind. Having established, in structure and form , a system of governance that corresponds to its conception of democracy, it feels that nothing more needs to be done. The ‘Truths’ of the liberal ideology are, as the American Declaration on the Rights of Man expresses it, ‘Self Evident’. They require no proof, no reiteration, and no defence - certainly no defence by force of arms. Once democracy is established, according to liberal mythology, the mystical ‘invisible hand’ keeps everything in place; the ‘superior wisdom of the masses’ ensures order and justice... This is just so much rubbish. As we should know after living with falsehoods for fifty years now. Truth does not triumph; unless it has champions to propound it, unless it has armies to defend it." | ||
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| === Indian Hockey Federation === | === Indian Hockey Federation === | ||
| KPS Gill was the head of the Indian Hockey Federation until sacked on ] ] |
KPS Gill was the head of the Indian Hockey Federation until sacked on ] ]. During his tenure, India failed to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time since 1928. Many of his critics demanded his resignation, but he refused to do so. In an interview with NDTV, which exposed the shallow and momentary love for Indian hockey in the Indian media, and left the media people fumbling for words, he said that he would not resign because he believed that that was the easy way out.<ref></ref> He had been at the top spot since around 15 years.<ref></ref><ref></ref>. | ||
| In April 2008, ], the secretary of IHF was caught in a sting camera operation by Aaj Tak Television, which gave money for selecting a player. As a result, IHF was dissolved for an indefinite period on charges of corruption, and its officers, including Gill, were sacked.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref name=autogenerated4 /><ref name=autogenerated3 /> | In April 2008, ], the secretary of IHF was caught in a sting camera operation by Aaj Tak Television, which gave money for selecting a player. As a result, IHF was dissolved for an indefinite period on charges of corruption, and its officers, including Gill, were sacked.<ref name=autogenerated1 /><ref name=autogenerated4 /><ref name=autogenerated3 /> | ||
Revision as of 18:17, 13 December 2008
 | The neutrality of this article is disputed. Relevant discussion may be found on the talk page. Please do not remove this message until conditions to do so are met. (December 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
| Kanwar Pal Singh Gill | |
|---|---|
| Occupation(s) | Former Director General of Punjab Police Former President of the Indian Hockey Federation |
Kanwar Pal Singh Gill is retired Indian police officer, author, and sports administrator. Under his lead, the Punjab police successfully brought the terrorism and militancy in Punjab under control in the 1990s. Gill got involved in sports administration after retirement from police and was the President of the Indian Hockey Federation, but a corruption episode in 2008 resulted in his unceremonial sacking and dissolution of IHF. Gill is a controversial figure; he was found guilty of harassment, he is often blamed for the downfall of Indian hockey, and his police forces have been accused of adopting excessive measures during the Punjab insurgency.
Police career
KPS Gill began his career as a police officer in the north-eastern state of Assam, quickly earning a reputation as a tough officer. He became a household name across the country as Punjab police chief in the early 1990s, when he was credited with crushing a separatist revolt and addressing terrorism in the Sikh-majority state, for doing so, he earned the sobriquet of a "supercop".
Gill publishes a journal Faultlines: Writings on Conflict and Resolution and runs the Institute for Conflict Management, as well as advising governments and institutions on security related issues. He was asked by the government of Sri Lanka last year for similar advice. Mr Gill has also written a book, "The Knights of Falsehood", which explores the abuse of religious institutions by the politics of freedom struggle in Punjab.
He has also been appointed as a consultant by the Chattisgarh government to help tackle the Naxalite movement in the state.
Criminal charges and other allegations
Punjab insurgency
Some political activists have alleged that under KPS Gill, the Punjab Police killed thousands of suspects in staged shootouts, and cremated or disposed thousands of bodies without proper identification or post-mortem.
 | This article possibly contains original research. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (July 2008) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Sikh author Khushwant Singh believed that Gill saved The Sikhs and Punjabis for India. He came out as a hero for India but some others describe him as a wanton killer.
In his book, Punjab: The Knights of Falsehood, Gill states: "Democracy and liberalism are not a sufficient defence and this is a fact that the ideologues of ‘freedom’ need, equally, to comprehend. There is a fatal flaw in the liberal mind. Having established, in structure and form , a system of governance that corresponds to its conception of democracy, it feels that nothing more needs to be done. The ‘Truths’ of the liberal ideology are, as the American Declaration on the Rights of Man expresses it, ‘Self Evident’. They require no proof, no reiteration, and no defence - certainly no defence by force of arms. Once democracy is established, according to liberal mythology, the mystical ‘invisible hand’ keeps everything in place; the ‘superior wisdom of the masses’ ensures order and justice... This is just so much rubbish. As we should know after living with falsehoods for fifty years now. Truth does not triumph; unless it has champions to propound it, unless it has armies to defend it."
Murder of Human Rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra
Main article: Jaswant Singh KhalraJaswant Singh Khalra was a human rights activist who was abducted from in front of his house by under-cover commandos of Punjab Police at orders of Senior Superintendent of Police Ajit Singh Sandhu and taken to Jhabal police station.. Eye witnesses have given statements implicating the police and have named former police chief Kanwar Pal Singh Gill as a conspirator, police denied having ever arrested or detained him, and claimed to have no knowledge of his whereabouts. Special Police Officer, Kuldeep Singh, who was witness to the police brutality testified in court that then DGP K. P. S. Gill visited Khalra in illegal confinement and remained with him in the room for "about half an hour" a few days before Khalra was killed . SPO Kuldeep Singh further testified that, on journey back to Jhabal police station, he was told that Khalra could have saved himself if he had listened to the "advice" of K.P.S. Gill. On November 18 2005, six Punjab police officials were convicted and sentenced to seven years imprisonment for Khalra’s abduction and murder. On October 16, 2007 a division bench of Punjab and Haryana High Court, chaired by Justices Mehtab Singh Gill and A N Jindal, extended the sentence to Life imprisonment for four accused Satnam Singh, Surinder Pal Singh, Jasbir Singh (all former Sub Inspectors) and Prithipal Singh (former Head Constable) .
Sexual harassment case
In August 1996 Gill was convicted of sexually harassing a senior Punjabi female civil servant, Rupan Deol Bajaj, for pinching/ slapping her bottom while inebriated at a party . Mr Gill had to pay a hefty fine and was sentenced to three years in prison which was later reduced to probation.
Indian Hockey Federation
KPS Gill was the head of the Indian Hockey Federation until sacked on April 28 2008. During his tenure, India failed to qualify for the Olympic Games for the first time since 1928. Many of his critics demanded his resignation, but he refused to do so. In an interview with NDTV, which exposed the shallow and momentary love for Indian hockey in the Indian media, and left the media people fumbling for words, he said that he would not resign because he believed that that was the easy way out. He had been at the top spot since around 15 years..
In April 2008, Kandaswamy Jyothikumaran, the secretary of IHF was caught in a sting camera operation by Aaj Tak Television, which gave money for selecting a player. As a result, IHF was dissolved for an indefinite period on charges of corruption, and its officers, including Gill, were sacked.
External links
See also
References
- Talk Of The Town. The Hindu. Friday, September 21, 2001. "I am a Sikh and I confronted Sikh terrorism in Punjab. There were thousands of people who condemned terrorism and lost their lives."
- ^ TIMESNOW.tv - Latest Breaking News, Big News Stories, News Videos
- ^ The Hindu News Update Service
- ^ KPS Gill sacked, IHF suspended by IOA- Hindustan Times
- ^ SC upholds conviction of Gill in Rupan Deol case-India-The Times of India
- ^ 505 Pratiksha Baxi, Sexual harassment
- ^ The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News
- "'Supercop' Gill to take on Chhattisgarh Maoists". Chandigarh: The Tribune. April 6, 2006. Retrieved 2008-03-13.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - "Website of Institute of Conflict Management". Retrieved 2008-06-11.
- Special Broadcasting Service :: Dateline - presented by George Negus
- The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : Is justice possible without looking for the truth?
- http://www.indiatogether.org/2003/jun/hrt-missing.htm
- India: A vital opportunity to end impunity in Punjab
- http://sikhtimes.com/news_101604a.html
- ^ "A mockery of justice: The case concerning the "disappearance" of human rights defender Jaswant Singh Khalra severely undermined". Amnesty International. Cite error: The named reference "amnesty" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- "K.P.S. Gill visited Khalra in jail, says witness". The Tribune, Chandigarh, India. February 17, 2005.
- ^ Singh, Jangveer (2005-02-17). "K.P.S. Gill visited Khalra in jail, says witness : Recounts tale of police brutality before his 'murder'". The Tribune. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
- "Punjab Cops Convicted of 1995 Murder of Activist Khalra". Ensaaf.
- NDTV.com
- The buck stops at Gill
- Hockey in shame, up to its Gill