CHANDIGARH, AMRITSAR: The Punjab police chief K.BS. Gill has boosted that with the killing of eight militants in an eight hour long encounter with security forces in Gharilai village, a major group operating in Tarn Taran district has been wiped out.
SRPF inspect actor B.N Pande and constable Ram Avtar Yadev were also killed in the encounter. Another constable Khagan Barman was injured,
Mr. Gillstated that the leader of the group S. Bakshish Singh alias Son a of Kairon village was believed to have been killed in the inter gang rivalry by Gurbaksh Singh last week.
The group which was a splinter group of the “Khalistan Commando Force, was now headed by Dalbir Singh. He was also killed in the encounter.
Dalbir Singh carried a reward of Rs 30,000 his head.
Two Chinese Ak74 assault rifles one 315 bore rifle and some cartridges were recovered from the scene of the encounter. The other militants who were claimed to have been killed, were identified as Ajit Singh, Inderjit Singh, alias Bholla, Amarjit Singh, Jhamke, Gurnam Singh, alias Gama, Ranjit Singh alias Rana and Ghariala Nand Singh alias Nand.
The IG (Border Range), Mr. C. Pal Singh said that a joint operation of the Punjab police and the CRPF ws launched in the Bhikhwind area yesterday at 5:30 am. Eight companies of the CRPF and one company of the Punjab police were involved in the operation.
On seeing an advance police party two freedom fighters opened fire, killing a CRPF sub inspectator and a constable on the spot and injuring another constable. In the ensuing exchange of fire eight freedom fighters were killed. The security forces used Para flares LNG’s hand grenades and light pistols.
According to information some unidentified gunmen shot dead a police constable, made an attempt on their lives of two political leaders, while security forces nabbed two Sikh young men during the last 24 hours.
An unspecified number of gun men entered the house of Constable Major Singh at Hamda Village in Ferozepore district and shot him dead.
Former legislator Surjit Kaur escaped an attempt on her live when an unspecified number of gunmen attacked her house at Tanda in the Hoshiapur district, however the gunmen escaped after her son returned the fire.
A CPM leader Sohan Singh escaped unhurt when some gunmen opened fire at his house in Amritsar city.
Three persons seta blaze a shop of Ashok Kumar at Charik village in Faridkot district.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 3, 1989
