KL Report
SRINAGAR
The ban on Punjabi film ‘Sadda Haq’ made the Sikh community in Kashmir to come on the streets and protest against the ban. The Sikh community under the banner of ‘Institute of Gurmat Studies’ were protesting on Monday morning in Lal Chowk and demanded for the removal of ban.
The film was scheduled to be released on April 05 but it was banned by Punjab government under pressure from high-ups in Punjab police and the bureaucracy on the late evening of April 04 which was followed by the protests across the Punjab.
Meanwhile, protesting against the ban imposed by Punjab Government on Sadda Haq Punjabi movie the producer and actor Kuljinder Sidhu has termed the ban as shameful and a “black spot on democracy”.
As per Delhi based media, the movie is based on real event of Punjab during 1980s-90s it portrays the widespread police excesses including torture used by police to crush insurgency in Punjab.
Many police officers including Punjab DGP Sumedh Saini are facing charges for heinous crimes, such as torture, murder/extra-judicial killings. Recently an SSP rank officer Preet Pal Singh Virk, besides some other Punjab police cops, was convicted by a CBI court for abduction, illegal confinement and custodial torture and sentenced to ten years of imprisonment.
It is believed that Punjab government banned the screening of the film under pressure from the high-ups in Punjab police.
The movie was previously banned by India’s Central Board of Film Certification. The review petition to the CBFC by the producers was also dismissed. On an appeal the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) had approved the movie and it was awarded “U” certificate which signifies that the movie may be watched by persons of any age.
