CHANDIGARH: While the Punjab police has taken the en tire credit for gunning down militant, Gurbachan Singh Manochahal, the Western Command authorities are learned to have informed the Chief Minister, Beant Singh, that he fell to the burst fired from the LMG by a naik of Rashtriya Rifles.
The Director General of Police, K.P.S.Gill, at a new conference here after the killing, had given virtually the entire credit to the police. The reward money is also learned to have been shared by the policemen. The claim by the Rashtriya Rifles has given a new twist to the killing. However, the Rashtriya Rifles has not claimed the reward as the action is considered to be a part of the normal duty.
The Western Command head quarter had the details the next day after the killing which was later conveyed to the State government for information.”
According to official sources, as the police encircled Manochahal’s hideout and sought reinforcements, a company commander of the 5, Rashtriya Rifles with headquarters at Tam Taran, on patrol duty, intercepted the message on his wireless set. He informed his higher authorities and rushed to the scene in aid of the police, The men from this elite force formed the outer ring. The Battalion Commander also arrived at the scene of action by that time.
As Manochahal came out of the farm house and tried to escape, he was spotted by this naik from the Rashtriya Riffles who pulled the trigger of his LMG killing the militant leader on the Spot
According to official sources, the Chief Minister has been ad vised to recognize this contribution of Rashtriya Rifles as it would be a morale booster to the army and other such forces posted in the state to help the police in containing militancy.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 19, 1993
