LUCKNOW: In their biggest strike in the state, suspected Punjab militants killed 29 villagers, including three women, in Pilibhit district.

According to the police, about 30 persons who had gone to the Mailani forest in Shahjahan pur district to collect katerua, used as vegetable, on July 31 were abducted by the militants.

One of the villagers who managed to escape narrated the incident to his neighbors, Later about 200 villagers combed the forest but could find no trace of those abducted. They informed the police on the evening of July 31.

The police found their bullet riddled bodies from the confluence of the Khanna utriver and the Sikaria nullah,

The victims included 16 men and three women of Ghunghachai village under the Puran pur police station and 10 men of Shivnagar village under the Gajrauli police station. Although none of the militant out fits active in the Terai claimed responsibility for the massacre, the police believe it to be the handiwork of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan, led by Satnam Singh Chima. The militants, it is learnt, had warmed residents of villages against venturing into the forests which they were using as hideouts. Already they ‘had beaten up many villagers for violating their dictates,

According to sources, six militants had caught some villagers inside a forest near Sigh Ghat on the Khannaut river on July 28 and assaulted them with rifle butts. They had warned them of dire consequences if they repeated the “mistake.”

Senior police officials, including the DIG, Bareily Range, have rushed to the massacre site.

A massive search has been launched to nab the militants. However, no arrest has been made so far.

The Chief Minister, Kalyan Singh, expressed shock over the massacre.

Describing the incident as the most brutal and cowardly act, the Chief Minister said it was a slur on the entire humanity and should be condemned by all.

Meanwhile members in the Rajya Sabha demanded that the Army or para-military forces conduct extensive operations in the Terai to flush out militants who had set up an elaborate network in the region.

Article extracted from this publication >> Aug 14, 1992