Jasbir Jassi recalls meeting cop KPS Gill as Satluj discusses Punjab Police's legacy
Singer and actor Jasbir Jassi backed Diljit Dosanjh over Satluj's removal and recalled being made to sing before KPS Gill. His account has added another personal recollection to the renewed debate over Punjab's militancy years.
Punjabi singer and actor Jasbir Jassi has recalled his encounter with former Punjab DGP KPS Gill at a time when Satluj has reopened conversations around Punjab’s militancy years and the legacy of the Punjab Police.
The controversy around the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer, which was removed from Zee5 within 48 hours of release, has brought renewed focus on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and the figures associated with one of Punjab’s most turbulent periods.
While the film focusses on Khalra's campaign to expose enforced disappearances and illegal cremations in Punjab during the 1990s, it also depicts the role of KPS Gill, whose tenure continues to evoke sharply divided opinions.
Amid the controversy, Jasbir Jassi has publicly backed singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh over the removal of Satluj. Alongside his support, Jassi has recalled his own experience with the former police chief.
Jassi, who served as a young constable in the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) during the 1990s before going on to find fame as a singer, said he too had a personal encounter with KPS Gill. According to Jassi, he and fellow personnel were once picked up and taken to Gill's residence, where they were asked to sing for the DGP.
Recalling the incident, Jassi said they would sing while Gill, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, listened before eventually falling asleep. He added that the group later objected to performing before someone who was intoxicated and told him they could not continue under such circumstances.
Jassi's account comes at a time when Satluj has brought renewed attention to the personalities, events and unresolved debates surrounding Punjab's militancy period. Alongside victims and families who have long sought accountability, several individuals who served in the police force during that era have also begun sharing their own experiences, reflecting the complex and contested legacy of the period.
Punjabi singer and actor Jasbir Jassi has recalled his encounter with former Punjab DGP KPS Gill at a time when Satluj has reopened conversations around Punjab’s militancy years and the legacy of the Punjab Police.
The controversy around the Diljit Dosanjh-starrer, which was removed from Zee5 within 48 hours of release, has brought renewed focus on the life of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra and the figures associated with one of Punjab’s most turbulent periods.
While the film focusses on Khalra's campaign to expose enforced disappearances and illegal cremations in Punjab during the 1990s, it also depicts the role of KPS Gill, whose tenure continues to evoke sharply divided opinions.
Amid the controversy, Jasbir Jassi has publicly backed singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh over the removal of Satluj. Alongside his support, Jassi has recalled his own experience with the former police chief.
Jassi, who served as a young constable in the Punjab Armed Police (PAP) during the 1990s before going on to find fame as a singer, said he too had a personal encounter with KPS Gill. According to Jassi, he and fellow personnel were once picked up and taken to Gill's residence, where they were asked to sing for the DGP.
Recalling the incident, Jassi said they would sing while Gill, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, listened before eventually falling asleep. He added that the group later objected to performing before someone who was intoxicated and told him they could not continue under such circumstances.
Jassi's account comes at a time when Satluj has brought renewed attention to the personalities, events and unresolved debates surrounding Punjab's militancy period. Alongside victims and families who have long sought accountability, several individuals who served in the police force during that era have also begun sharing their own experiences, reflecting the complex and contested legacy of the period.
