‘Where Are the Convicted Officers?’ Manpreet Ayali raises Jaswant Singh Khalra case in Punjab Assembly
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, August 3, 2026: Shiromani Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) leader and Mullanpur Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali on Monday raised the issue of the Jaswant Singh Khalra case in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, seeking details about the whereabouts of three former police officials convicted in connection with the human rights activist’s abduction and murder.
Raising the matter during the ongoing Assembly session, Ayali questioned the government about the status of former Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Jaspal Singh and former Sub-Inspectors Satnam Singh and Jasbir Singh, who were convicted in the case.
Ayali asked the government to clarify where the convicted officers had been since 2023 and what action had been taken to trace them. He said the matter was serious and that the people of Punjab had a right to know about their current status.
“The government should tell the House where the accused are,” Ayali said while responding sharply to a political remark by Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema.
The MLA said the government should make public the details of efforts made to locate the convicted officers and disclose the action taken in the matter. He added that the Jaswant Singh Khalra case was not limited to an individual but was closely linked to the larger questions of human rights and justice in Punjab.
Ayali also referred to the film ‘Sutlej’, based on the life and work of Jaswant Singh Khalra, while raising the issue in the House.
Recalling the period of militancy and counter-insurgency in Punjab, Ayali alleged that thousands of young people were killed and their bodies were cremated as unidentified. He said Khalra had documented and sought accountability for alleged illegal cremations before he was abducted and killed.
Ayali said it was unfortunate that justice remained incomplete and urged the Punjab Government to clarify its position and provide the Assembly with complete information regarding the whereabouts and legal status of the convicted officers.