BEHLA (TARN TARAN): Eight top militants of the Bhindranwale Tiger Force (BTR) including its deputy chief Lt.General Bhai Sarjit Singh Behla (who was next to Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal) two police personnel and an army deploy were killed and four civilians injured in 28-hourencounters in this village.

Those who were killed were Mandan Singh Maddialias Khotta Behla Sakatar Singh his father Nayjinjan Singh the policy maker of the BTF and two unidentified militants Jamail Singh Punjab police head constable and constable Harjit Singh. One army sepoy “whose name was not disclosed was also killed.” In the evening two unidentified bodies were found near the bungalow.

Among the injured are Naib Karash Chand and constable Son Dunt of the CRPF four civilian’s two sisters of militants Sarjit Singh Beda and Narinjan Singh “Dhool” and his son Manga.

According to a villager these Civilians were sent inside by the security Officers to find out how many militants were hiding there. Nranjan Singh and Manga were hit by a burst of gun shots as they entered the bungalow. The villager said that the injured civilians were admitted to a hospital at Tarn Taran.

The sisters of Bhai Sarjit Singh Behla were brough there from their in-laws-houses to help in the surrender of Bhai Sarjit Singh Behla but were injured in the firing. However the police denied that any civilian was injured in this operation.

The police claimed that on getting a tip-off that top militant leaders of the BTF were holding a meeting in a double-storey bungalow here they cordoned off the village and the bungalow. A joint police party of 26 led by the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP). Tarn Taran Ajit Singh Sandhu entered the bungalow. Two police constables were posted at the entry of a bunker specially constructed in the bungalow the rest of the party after searching the house reached the rooftop. Meanwhile the militants came out of the bunker and shot dead two constables who are said to be the personal security guards of the ssp.

Two CRPF personnel were also injured.

Thereafter there was heavy firing from both the sides. The police party which included SSP Sandhu one DSP (Detective) one commandant CRPI and two Deputy Commandant’s two police inspectors and constables from Punjab police and the CRPF were trapped on the rooftop. This put the security forces in a precarious situation the militants came out of the bunker and took up a vantage position to fix at the cops.

The security forces continued heavy firing to keep the militants under pressure “whose number till then no one knew” and called in more army and security forces The militants who knew that if they succeeded more than two dozen police personnel would be killed continued firing at the cops. The firing continued the whole night and all the 26 police personnel remained trapped on the roof top.

The army deployed its commandoes to save the trapped policemen. One of the commandoes was killed when he tried to provide a ladder to the trapped. The army provided heavy fire cover as the members of the trapped party came down the ladder one by one.

This part of the operation was executed with such great precision that not a single cop was injured the army then threw rockets and explosives into the bungalow from all sides.

Smoke was still billowing from the bungalow when the media men were allowed to go near it

The bungalow belongs to Manjinder Singh Behta former chief parliamentary secretary Punjab. He is a member of the Akali Dal (Longowal). His arrest is expected anytime.

Elsewhere in Punjab three militants including “Khalistan Commando Force (Panjwar)” Lt.General and one of the most dreaded extortionists Sukhwinderpal Singh alias Bhappi committed suicide and a farmer was killed.

Article extracted from this publication >> June 19, 1992