Among those responding to the film is veteran journalist Satinder Bains, who first exposed the Khalra case in The Indian Express on May 5, 1996. Now based in Canada, Bains shared a video on Facebook in which he said the film closely reflects the events surrounding Khalra's final days before a police insider, whose own life later ended in tragedy, revealed the truth.
Recalling the investigation that brought the case into the public domain, Bains said watching the film transported him back nearly three decades to the time he reported the story. He described his meeting in Amritsar with Kuldeep Singh, a Special Police Officer, who claimed he possessed crucial information about Khalra's disappearance.
According to Bains, Kuldeep Singh told him that he had been promised a permanent position as a police constable in exchange for his involvement and silence regarding the incident. When the promised appointment did not materialize, he decided to approach the media and disclose the truth.
Bains said Kuldeep Singh informed him that he knew where Jaswant Singh Khalra had been taken and revealed details that would later become central to the investigation. Recognizing the seriousness of the allegations, Bains consulted his editor before recording the whistleblower's statement. That recorded testimony later became a crucial part of the Central Bureau of Investigation's case and was subsequently presented by Kuldeep Singh before the Supreme Court.
Jaswant Singh Khalra was widely known for exposing the secret cremations of unidentified bodies in Punjab, an issue that attracted national and international attention.
Describing the whistleblower's account, Bains said Khalra was subjected to severe torture in October 1995. According to the testimony, Khalra cried out repeatedly and requested water while in custody.
Bains stated that the actual shooting differed slightly from the film's portrayal. While the film depicts senior police officer Ajit Singh Sandhu firing the fatal shot, the whistleblower claimed that the shooting was carried out by Station House Officer Satnam Singh.
According to Bains, the Station House Officer instructed Kuldeep Singh to fetch water for Khalra. When Kuldeep Singh returned, the officer allegedly shot Khalra, firing two bullets, one into his heart and another into his head.
The whistleblower himself also suffered devastating consequences. Bains said Kuldeep Singh was forced into hiding after escaping a police raid at his residence. Despite the risks, he later testified before the Supreme Court regarding the case.
Bains further recalled that Kuldeep Singh's body was eventually discovered under unidentified circumstances. He said it was initially treated as an unidentified body before later being identified as Kuldeep Singh. According to Bains, the circumstances surrounding his death remain unresolved.
Reflecting on the case, Bains said he felt a deep sense of satisfaction that he had been given the opportunity as a journalist to bring the story to light and ensure that justice was done to the facts. He expressed hope that the international release of Sutlej would encourage more people to watch the film and revive discussions on human rights, accountability, and one of the most significant human rights cases in Punjab's modern history.
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