Punjabi film and music superstar Diljit Dosanjh starring film on murdered Sikh activist Jaswant Singh Khalra will make its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, it was announced Monday by the star itself on social media as well as TIFF as it unveiled major films premiering at the festival this year. Dosanjh stars along with Bollywood star Arjun Rampal in the film, which is now titled “Punjab ’95,” as it previously was only known as the Khalra film. In September and October 1995, Indian security forces illegally detained, tortured, and killed Khalra for his work uncovering over 2,000 cases of extrajudicial executions and secret cremations in Amritsar district alone.
By PD Raj – Senior Writer DESIBUZZCanada
TORONTO – Punjabi film and music superstar Diljit Dosanjh starring film on murdered Sikh activist Jaswant Singh Khalra will make its debut at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, it was announced Monday by the star itself on social media as well as TIFF as it unveiled major films premiering at the festival this year.
Dosanjh stars along with Bollywood star Arjun Rampal in the film, which is now titled “Punjab ’95,” as it previously was only known as the Khalra film.
“Waheguruji ka Khalsa Waheguruji ki Fateh! World Premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival Presenting the first look of Punjab ‘95, a compelling story based on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra Ji,” Dosanjh wrote on social media as he unveiled the poster of the film.
The film is a biography of the human rights campaigner Jaswant Singh Khalra, who was murdered by Indian authorities.
In September and October 1995, Indian security forces illegally detained, tortured, and killed Khalra for his work uncovering over 2,000 cases of extrajudicial executions and secret cremations in Amritsar district alone.
Khalra was abducted from his home in Amritsar, Punjab by plain clothes police officers from the Tarn Taran district. Earlier, Khalra’s research had uncovered the illegal murder and cremation of thousands of young Sikhs by the Punjab Police, the Superintendant of Police from Tarn Taran, Ajit Sandhu had said “if 25,000 have disappeared, it will be easy to make one more disappear too.”
From his abduction on September 6, 1995 until his eventual murder on October 27, 1995, S. Khalra endured unspeakable torture and abuse.
The story of S. Khalra’s death may have remained a complete mystery if not for Kuldeep Singh, a former Special Police Officer who later came forward as a witness in the Khalra murder case. Kuldeep Singh was tasked with the job of giving S. Khalra his meals during his illegal detention.
Kuldeep Singh said that the head of the Punjab Police, KP Gill came to visit Khalra while he was in custody a few days before his murder. Gill remained with Khalra for half an hour. After Gill’s departure, Kuldeep Singh heard the head of the police station, SHO Satnam Singh say to Khalra that he could have saved himself if only he had listened to and agreed with the advice of Gill.
On October 27, 1995, Kuldeep Singh said that police officers began beating Khalra (a regular occurrence) but then shot him twice in the chest. It was around 10pm. Khalra’s body was taken in a police jeep and thrown into the Harike canal. The police officers, Arvinder and Balwinder, who disposed of Khalra’s body were rewarded with two bottles of liquor which they consumed on the lawn of the Harike rest house, as their senior officers enjoyed themselves inside.
Three months prior to his disappearance, S. Khalra was in Canada at the invitation of the World Sikh Organization of Canada. He spoke at WSO’s Parliamentary Dinner about his research and the atrocities being committed in Punjab.
Punjab 95 has been facing an uphill battle in India with India’s film censors delaying it’s clearance. India’s official film certification body, the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC), gave “Punjab ’95” ‘A’ grade (equivalent to Canada’s 18A certification) in addition to 21 edits and alteration of controversial dialogues.
According to reports, the producers of “Punjab ’95” have been attempting to obtain a certificate in India since December. However, the CBFC’s judgement has been delayed, and the producers told to do 21 changes before CBFC reconsiders giving the certificate.
