On a cold night in December 2015, some men entered Rasal Singh’s house asking, “Kya aap Rasal Singh hain?” (Are you Rasal Singh?) Rasal nodded, and the next thing he saw was the quick flash of a sword, slicing through his scalp. He opened his eyes only eight days after the brutal attack. Next to him were his family members, praying for his life. He was told that his 14-year-old daughter, Paramjeet Kaur, who was also attacked that night, was admitted in the hospital as well.
Rasal has a beautiful family – his wife, Dalvir Kaur, five daughters and a son. His parents also live with them, in their three-room house in Narli village, of the Taran Taran district in Punjab. Rasal and his wife worked for various brick kilns for about 12 years. They were ‘bought’ by Bakshish Singh, a farm owner, from the last brick kiln owner they worked for. Rasal had taken two advances of Rs 30,000 and Rs 20,000 from the owner. They were told that they were bought for Rs 130,000 by Bakshish Singh, who was a relative of the brick kiln owner. Rasal toiled in Bakshish Singh’s fields that spanned about 100 acres – ploughing, planting the seeds, adding the fertilizers and tending to the growing crops His wife and daughter, Paramjeet, did all the household work, like cleaning, cooking, washing buffaloes, etc. They were not paid wages, and had no freedom of movement. They were denied the freedom to look for other employment opportunities.
A year and a half into his work with Bakshish Singh, Rasal Singh decided something had to be done. He approached a volunteer with the organization Volunteers for Social Justice (VSJ), who took up the case with the Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of the tehsil. A BL enquiry was done and registered. In January 2015, finally, Rasal and his family were released from bondage. The SDM came to the facility to order his release, though no formal Release Certificates were given. The Rs 1,30,000 that the owner claimed Rasal owed him was also cancelled. Rasal’s family left the agricultural facility.
A few weeks later, Rasal and two of his daughters found employment in a brick kiln close by, where they were being paid. For eight working days, their collective wages would be between Rs 1700-2200. Everything seemed to be settling down over the next 10-11 months for Rasal and his family.
Things took an unexpected and violent turn in December 2015. The case Rasal had filed against the owner with the SDM of Taran Taran district was still open and this infuriated the owner. The owner, his wife and some of their relatives visited Rasal Singh’s house on the pretext of inviting him for a wedding. On confirming it was Rasal Singh, they pulled out their sword and slashed Rasal’s skull. The owner’s wife held Paramjeet’s hands and someone slashed her shoulder. After about 2-3 minutes of no-words and only quick violent action the attackers left, firing a pistol in the air as a warning.
Rasal Singh’s injuries have taken more than 6 months to heal.
He was hospitalised for 40 days. There are eight steel plates inserted in his left hand. He has started walking only about 25 days ago. His daughter Paramjeet’s shoulder has steel rods in it. The drive to the hospital in Amritsar took around 25 minutes but access to treatment was only possible after the required money was available to Rasal and his daughter. Paramjeet was admitted and immediate treatment was provided. Rasal and his companions waited outside the hospital almost till the next morning when other villagers collected the amount required to get his admitted in the hospital.
Later, the villagers went to the police station in order to file a complaint but they were met by an unwilling official. Somehow they were able to connect with the SSP who then ordered the police station to write down their complaint. A case was registered under Sections 323, 326 and 452, but no charges were pressed under the SC/ST Act. Four of the accused (excluding the owner and his wife) were put behind bars immediately after the incident, but were let out on bail three and a half months later.
Media highlighted the story in various papers.
Rasal and his daughter struggled to recover in the hospital for over a month, during which the local newspaper highlighted the issue. This media hype also led to an MLA Mr Sardool visiting Rasal in the hospital. He gave Rasal Rs 25,000, which covered the immediate medical expenses for them. VSJ’s founder Jai Singh helped Rasal and his family with one and half months of supplies and has promised a job for him after he recovers. VSJ has also promised to help him open a provisions store. But Rasal says in despair, “I am confused, I cannot work normally and earn.”
The incident has changed Rasal Singh’s life – his wife points out how he has become so quick to lose his temper. The pain in his head, though reduced, still persists…a nagging, pulsating pain! The local grocery shop keepers do not give his family any groceries any more, fearing they won’t be able to repay the amount. Rasal feels ‘useless’. He adds, “I can’t even ride a bike.”
Since the time of the incident, the SDM of Tehsil Patti has given them two amounts of Rs 10,000 each for medical treatment and provisions. The Welfare Department has released a check of Rs 22,500 as SC/ST compensation, which Rasal and his family are still waiting for.
Rasal wants to lead a normal life. He hopes to somehow acquire a buffalo which will provide him the means to make a living. The only hope Rasal Singh has is that Mr Jai Singh will fight his case. He spends his day at the local gurudwara praying and hoping that he will be well soon and start living his life again.
Over the past few months, there have been numerous calls from the owner and requests to settle the case out of court. When asked about the case which he has filed against the owner and his accomplices, Rasal says “There is no chance of taking the case back. My life has changed completely and will never be the same again because of what they have done. I think justice has to be done. They should be punished,” he says in his quiet voice.
Bandhua 1947 