On 28.3.1986, at 6.40 a.m., in Dresi Ground, Ludhiana, the militants shocked the Ludhiana citizens by killing 10 persons and injuring 13 (though unofficial version gives 13 dead and 13 injured). The strike caught the Police unaware as it was the normal change-over of duties when the shooting took place. The site attracts morning walkers and Rashtrya Seva Sangh(R.S.S.), a right wing Hindu organization volunteers, this being the only vacant piece of land in this congested, Hindu dominated locality.
The incident gave birth to may controversies and created a sense of disquiet against the police and the civil administration. The press came down heavily on the Punjab Government. All the Opposition politicians and the newly-formed Hindu militant Shiv Sena demanded with one voice, the dismissal of the Barnala administration and the induction of the Army in Punjab. These parties were of the view that the police were “aiding and abetting terrorists”. The version given by the people on the spot and on the route taken by the militants was as under:-
(a) A Police Yellow Motor Cycle borne by three terrorists in Police uniform.
(b) A Chetak Yellow scooter borne by two terrorists in civil clothes.
(c) These terrorists came from the Police Station No.4 and vanished either into the City Police office or Sadar Police station.
The above versions given by vocal sections of one community caused a lot of illwill amongst the citizens and against the administration. To sift evidence and to bring out facts before the citizens, the Punjab Human Rights Organization appointed a sub-committee headed by Col. Chanan Singh Dhillon (President Punjab Kalyan Forum), the other members being G.D.Hans, former Judicial Magistrate, Tarsem Sharma, Mukeshinder Singh, Advocates and Gurbhajan Singh Gill, a former Police officer.
Sequence of events:
The Committee inspected the site of the incident and made enquiries on the spot. At least half a dozen vendors around the Kuldip Park, the place of the incident in the Dresi ground were contacted, who declined to say anything about the incident. They were not prepared even to pinpoint the spot. The Committee then contacted the Acting S.H.O. of Police Station Division No.4, Ludhiana, who could not say anything because he had taken over charge only after the incident. However, he cooperated and produced Night Munshi Head Constable(H.C.) Jagdish Singh who was present in the thana(police station) at the time of the incident..
According to Jagdish Singh, while he was unloading his rifle after his night duty as Night Moharar, to be ready for change-over, he heard a burst of fire in the direction of Dresi Ground. He reloaded his rifle and hung his bandolier in the arm and rushed out of the thana. As he approached the Punjab State Electricity Board’s office around the corner, Sat Pal, rickshaw-wala, met him and told him about the firing and accompanied him along carrying his bandolier. Just before nearing the P.S.E.B. office, he heard another burst of fire, and in response, he fired some shots towards Dresi Ground over the buildings. It may be stated that the visibility of Dresi Ground is barred from the Thana Road up to the east end of the Kuldip Park by buildings. The distance between the thana and place of incident is more than 100 meters. Head Constable Jagdish Singh further stated that it took 2-3 minutes to reach the spot. In between, he kept on firing, but his rifle jammed after 6-7 rounds. When he was rectifying the jam, Sat Pal told him that the culprits had moved to the other side of the overhead tank. He restarted firing when he was stopped by a group of people who told him that the culprits had moved towards the Mandir and that he being alone, should not take risk. But, inspite of the imminent danger to his life, with the timely cooperation of Sat Pal rickshaw-wala, he kept on moving undaunted. In the meantime, Constable Pargat Singh arrived. He left reinforced. Constable Pargat Singh encouraged him from the rear and also fired some shots. The Assistant Sub Inspector(A.S.I.) with Constable Kulwant Singh joined too. During this period, the culprits had disappeared and they (police) found themselves surrounded by the mob. The mob became violent, abusive and started pelting stones on the police party which retreated to the thana, finding themselves in a precarious state.
In the meantime, the Control Room was informed and a sizable police contingent arrived at the scene within 15 minutes. The unruly mob attacked this force who had to fire in the air to scare away the unruly elements and to rescue the Superintendent Of Police(City), P.M.Das, Additional Deputy Commissioner, S.P.Karkara and Magistrate, J.L.Malhotra. More than 10 policemen were injured who were given medical aid. During our talk with several police officials, we gathered that the policemen were still afraid of visiting this area due to the hostility of the predominant community.
The version given by Head Constable Jagdish Singh has fully been corroborated by some eye-witnesses of the locality who do not want to be identified. Sat Pal also corroborated the statement. According to him, a grey colour scooter was parked on the west side of the park and a black old Bullet motor cycle on the Northern side of the park.
The Committee traced the route taken by the culprits: they moved from the Dresi Ground, Old Sabzi Mandi killing one, crossed the G.T.Road near Kapoor Hospital killing one, then to Arya Higher Secondary School killing one and injuring another, Domoria Bridge killing one auto-rickshaw driver and finally towards the Kailash Cinema road.
The Committee then tried to contact people on this route. They were not prepared to talk on this subject. Some of them advised us to talk to their Mohalla Pardhans(local leaders) and group leaders. However, a few gave the description of the scooter-borne three persons, one was with a black turban driving the vehicle while two clean shaven on the pillion. The colour of the scooter is stated to be pale green. Maggo (Pakora wala) and his neighbouring shopkeeper in front of the Arya Higher Secondary School who are said to have seen the killings there, declined to say anything. However, it may be stated that a permanent post of C.R.P.F. is stationed in this very school. They came out only when the Mohalla people banged at their gate repeatedly and then took possession of the casualties. It may be mentioned here that R.S.S. functionaries meet at this school normally, for the morning exercises.
Further down at the Deepak roundabout, the tea shop owner(Amarjit Kumar by name) in front of whose shop, a Derson wat3 tired at, declined to say anything. His shop was said to be open at the time of firing. Some of his customers and the owners of Kohli General Store opposite the Tea shop stated that the shop of Amarjit was open and that he (Amarjit) had seen the assailants. Passing through Domoria Bridge, the Committee contacted Sh.Gurdas Ram, Toilet Attendant. He confirmed the number of culprits as three, driven by a turbaned man with two clean shaven on the pillion. He stated that these persons fired and killed the Auto Rickshaw man just across K.L. Dairy. He hid himself in the toilets and did not see as to which direction, the scooter went. The Committee contacted Surinder Kumar of the Dairy who confirmed the number of the assailants and the description of the scooter. He further disclosed that after being hit, the Auto-rickshaw man was gravely injured and crawled to their shop. Surinder Kumar ran up to the roof of his building and he saw the same scooter and the assailants taking a roundabout turn and sped towards Kailash Cinema Chowk(Square).
FINDINGS
The Committee after thorough examination of the incident is of the view that the police action was. prompt but their action was marred by the low strength available in the thana, (Police strength posted S.H.O. – 1, N.G.O.-3, H.C.-8, CS-36, available 0-1 1-7). The depletion in strength was caused by the deployment of the force at Holla Mohalla, Anandpur Sahib. Secondly, the time chosen by the culprits also went against the police. Thirdly, the local citizens did not co-operate. They, in fact, interfered in the operation of the police. The alert was sounded immediately but the re-enforcements could not act effectively, due to the hostile attitude of the mob gathered at the Dresi ground.
CONCLUSION
This grim tragedy, which caused death and injuries to so many innocent people, continues to remain a painful memory to the citizens. The attack on peaceful citizens, who came out for a walk and to do exercise, reminds one of clandestine tactics played by two factions of the erstwhile ruling party. Even the places of worships were not spared where tail and ears of dead cows were thrown by overt and covert means to thrive on the discord so created. This incident seems to be a similar attempt to create a permanent and vertical wedge between the two dominant communities. The story that the police personnel are involved in the incident is inspired and motivated.
The Committee feels that such murderous attacks help newly raised groups and mob militancy. Ludhiana, on earlier occasions was saved by the vigilant public and local administration. But it seems that rivalry between the new militant Hindu groups aided and abetted by the politically disgruntled elements has succeeded in disturbing not only the peace of the people but also effectively blocked the operation of the police for nabbing the culprits.
The Committee is of the view that the aim behind the ghastly incident was to blackmail the administration, create conditions to immobilise the law and order force, force the Central Government to intervention to destabilize the state Govt. and thus avenge the political defeat. The statements by certain people and parties in the Press clearly indicate this intention.
Whatever, be the claims of different militant groups owning responsibility for the incident, the Committee feels that this episode is the handiwork of certain newly formed militant groups, presumably playing in the hands of certain influential elements who took advantage of the reaction caused by the incident at Anandpur Sahib and made R.S.S. Shakhas as their targets. There seems to be a political motive behind the massacre as the Akali Dal and the B.J.P. had been political partners and were considered to be close to each other as they unitedly condemned the Nakodar episode.
The Committee also feels that political interference has eroded the credibility of the police force. The political opportunists should be held at bay and the police allowed to perform its duties independently. However, the police bosses should not provide latitude to the police officials who indulge in fake encounters such as in case of Navdeep Singh of Tarn Taran. The P.H.R.O. Secretariat examined the findings of the committee. It also examined other material made available from different sources. The P.H.R.O. believes that the massacre at the Dresi grounds is the direct reaction against the firing at Anandpur Sahib. The P.H.R.O. holds the Barnala Government, propped by the Centre, responsible for the loss of innocent lives both at Anandpur Sahib and at Ludhiana.
