Dimapur, Feb. 16 (EMN): Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has condoled the demise of Justice Ajit Singh Bains, founder of Punjab Human Rights Organisation and champion of human rights, who passed away on February 11.
NPMHR secretary general, Neingulo Krome, stated that human rights defenders are the most harassed and often persecuted for protecting the lives and dignity of fellow human beings and for promoting human rights of innocent people throughout the world.
It stated that during the post-June 1984 invasion of the Golden Temple complex under "Operation Bluestar," the Justice Baines Committee was constituted to investigate the issue of political prisoners. It added that the committee, on personal cost, travelled to jails across Punjab meeting the imprisoned and finalised its report in just two and a half months and recommended the release of 6,000 languishing detainees against whom it found no credible evidence, not even from police officials they interviewed. When Justice Baines refused to back down from holding the government accountable, 3,000 boys and men returned to their families in villages and towns across Punjab and Justice Baines became a household name.
It stated that Justice Ajit Singh Baines, who lived just two months short to be a 100, was not only a legendary human rights defender but a champion of human rights.
While mourning the loss, NPMHR stated that his name would be remembered for all times to come with inspirations for the present and upcoming generations to live and work for human dignity, which he envisioned.