Notice to Centre, Punjab on plea to bring Khalistan radical’s body home

Chandigarh: Taking cognizance of a plea seeking directions to bring the body of Avtar Singh alias Khanda, a pro-Khalistan leader and one of the alleged perpetrators of an attack on the Indian high commission in London, who died recently, back to Punjab for cremation, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Monday issued notice to the Centre ad Punjab government. The HC has also asked the authorities to file a status report.Justice Vinod S Bhardwaj has issued the notice after hearing a plea filed by Khanda’s sister Jaspreet Kaur (32). She wants her brother’s body brought to hometown Moga from the UK for cremation. The next hearing is on July 10.Her brother died on June 15 at Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals and his body is lying there for autopsay and other examinations. “The deceased had a last wish, that his body be cremated at his hometown and ashes immersed at Kiratpur Sahib. The petitioner has given representations to the office of high commissioner of India in London and to the ministry of external affairs (MEA) and the MHA for permission to bring the body from the UK... till date no response has been given by the authorities,” she has pleaded before the court.The petitioner has also argued that India is a secular country and it is common in every religion to treat their dead with respect and full dignity. She has also mentioned that their father was killed by the Punjab Police in a fake encounter and that investigation in this regard was transferred to CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) and the same is pending before the high court.“Punjab Police were forcing him to withdraw the case and he feared false cases. So he escaped from India and went to the UK in 2010, where he was granted asylum,” claims the petition.