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Sikh-Punjabi Victim of Police Brutality Transforms Herself Into an Activist

TIMES OF INDIA

 

 

 

Amritsar, Punjab

Till a few months ago, 19-year-old Harbinder Kaur was just another Sikh-Punjabi village girl -- shy and introvert, but happy in her own world. She was studying in class XII in a school at Usma village of Tarn Taran district and wanted to join college after clearing examinations.

But then she encountered the horror of her life on March 3, 2013, changing her life forever.

Now, she has taken the step to change it further: from a victim of police brutality to a fighter and an activist.

The teenager was beaten up and abused by six Indian cops in full public view in Tarn Taran town.

"My only mistake was that I approached the policemen for help. I was harassed by a group of taxi drivers and wanted a criminal case against them," said Harbinder Kaur, who was provided CRPF security by the Punjab High Court in the wake of the incident.

"Instead of helping, the cops started beating me. I felt so scared, and even agitated. When I tried to resist, they hit me more, this time with batons," she said.

The entire incident was shot on a handycam and the video was shown repeatedly by television channels. It also went viral online, prompting the Supreme Court to intervene into the matter.

"I felt so weird, actually humiliated, initially. But then I told myself that I needed to fight it out and get justice for my humiliation," she added.

The incident, instead of killing her internally, brought out the activist in her.

"It is said that something which doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I think something like that happened with me too," says Harbinder, sitting on a bed in her village home. She did not only fight off the pressure exerted by many to withdraw the case but also approached the High Court, seeking action against the accused cops.

Alongside fighting her assaulters, she has also vowed to help other women in distress. Recently, she was seen in Nandwala Nawan, a village in Amritsar district, extending help to Kuljit Kaur, another victim of police assault.

A cop had beaten up and torn up the clothes of Kuljit Kaur, and Harbinder was one of the first ones to contact her, offering her help. Harbinder asked Kuljit not to give in to any pressure and joined a demonstration against policemen and addressed a gathering on April 18, 2013 in front of Bandala police station near Amritsar.

"I had never thought that I would be able to fight for myself, forget about helping others. But when it happened with me and later when I heard about Kuljit Kaur, I just wanted to be there and help her," said Harbinder. She said she planned to start her own group against police brutality and atrocities.

"I want to do this job full time so I am thinking of starting a group or something on my own. I felt the fear once, but I won over it. I want all the women to become fearless and courageous," says Harbinder Kaur.

 

[Edited for sikhchic.com]

April 25, 2013

 

 

Conversation about this article

1: Kanwarjeet Singh (USA), April 25, 2013, 4:35 PM.

We need someone like Bhindranwale back. Some people do not understand the language of love and can only be straightened by force or fear. I commend Harbinder on standing up when all others stood by and merely watched.

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