AMRITSAR: More than 10,000 Indian armed forces are again engaged at present in house to house searches in villages in Tarn Taran, Ajnala and Majitha areas in Punjab in an renewed effort to combat Sikh militants. The aim of the government appears to be to make the Punjab situation hopeful as the country goes to the polls in December. The government would like to hold the polls in Punjab if possible to signify its success in dealing with the Sikh discontent. The massive armed might of the Indian state has been displayed in the troubled areas for a few days now aalong the Indo-Pak border following his failure to register a noticeable success in the operation, But India undertook several such operations in the mostly Mand area to apprehend Sikh freedom fighters. It appears that the intelligence agencies have realized that most of freedom fighters are protected by the Sikh population in the border districts. They do not find shelter in the riverine areas. Obviously the Indian forces have been following trail and error tactics, Sometimes they seek the freedom fighters in the mand (marsh) area and at others amongst the population.

There have been ample changes amongst the security forces. Sometimes the Central Reserve Police Force personnel are deployed and at other times Border Security Force men are put on duty. Recently armed men of the National Security Guard were brought in. This particular force is statutorily immunized from prosecution for whatever it does. An experiment with the NSG positioning in the Tarn Taran area has seemingly failed.

It is report that the NSG were given AK47 rifles, the same weapons are used by the freedom fighters to roam about at night in Sikh appearance and costumes. They wore lungis and turbans. They had flowing beards and sometimes they even wore kirpans. The aim was to create confusion about freedom fighters amongst the population and in this manner to make the security forces presence felt, but without success, The plan was suspended after 10 days.

One reason of the NSG failure was the absence of knowledge of topography of the area. Another was the growing inter service rivalry because the Punjab police and the CRPF have resented the induction of the NSG which has an air of superiority about itself.

The Sikh population identified the visitors at night because they saw the same NSG commandos moving around in the day also.

Before the NSG commandos were brought in the security forces evacuated their positions in the villages at night. They withdrew to their fortified urban positions. They returned to organize road blocks during the day but left the field free for the freedom fighters to operate at night.

The aim of the government in deploying a massive force simultaneously is to arrest as many Sikh youth as possible, interrogate and torture and to kill as many as are chosen by the security forces to combat the movement.

 

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 25, 1989