NEW DELHI, India, Sept. 5, Reuter; Police scuffled ‘with Hindu refugees from Punjab during a protest on Saturday outside the residence of Home (Ministry) Minister Buta Singh.

‘The refugees, among thousands who have fled violence in the ‘north Indian State this year, were demanding financial compensation and places in Delhi refugee camps.

The Press Trust of India (PTI) quoted protestors as saying three ‘were hurt when the crowd tried to break through police lines and police charged them with canes and fired tear gas.

Another four people, including three Sikh young men were killed in Punjab, bringing the unofficial toll this year to nearly 850.

PTI said the brother of an assistant police Sub Inspector was shot on Friday night, two gunmen were shot by police on Saturday after firing at police from a motor scooter and another shot himself as police searched a bus.

Police also reported the capture of 16 freedom fighters and imposed nighttime curfew on 64 villages along a stretch of the Pakistan frontier in northern Punjab. The curfew was imposed for two months to prevent freedom fighters crossing the border, police said.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 11, 1987