LUCKNOW: A large section of militants belonging to the Babbar Khalsa are understood to have recently crossed over from Punjab to the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh according 10 latest intelligence reports. The group led by Joginder Singh Jullundhari has expertise in the use of sophisticated explosives and is currently believed to be building up its base in the thick forest cover of this region.
So far the Binda group was regarded as the biggest with over 50 members followed by the Bhindranwale Tiger Force led by Cheema and Gajjan Singh and consisting of 35 members. The third inner was the Saffron Tigers for the Liberation of Khalistan with around 30 members.
The Babbar Khalsa has already enlisted around 30 members. The killings by this group intelligence sources say are likely to be more indiscriminate than the KCF which under its new commander. Yadu is making pointed targets like those killed on December 13 last year.
Although the December 18 massacre of 14 persons in Pilibhit district was initially regarded t have been in retaliation to the November 84 riots sources view it as part of the ongoing struggle between the various militant out fits to gain supremacy in the region Moreso after the gunning down of the area commander of the KCF Balwinder Singh Binda in a recent encounter with the police.
Yadu the second in command in the KCF is all set to succeed with the KCF throne in the Terai. With this aim in view he has indulged in selective killing of those involved in the “84 killing of Sikhs. All the 14 persons killed on December 18 for which Yadu claimed responsibility were directly or indirectly related to Lala ram an accused in the 84 riots freed from jail recently.
Lala ram was alleged to have set ablaze houses of three Sikhs fiving in Madaria village which the lattes fled in the wake of the riots Of them Gurmaj Singh is known to be living in the nearby Rampur Borak village while the other two are yet to be traced.
In the wake of the massacre non Sikhs in the neighboring areas who were accused in the riots face a direct threat to their lives. The police have been asked to Prepare a list of such persons with a view to providing them protection.
Meanwhile according to another intelligence source far from the stale governments claim that militancy in erai is a temporary phase till the elections in Punjab are not only fanning out in the region but are also planning a major counter offensive against the police.
The police force on the other hand are “well equipped” to deal with the sophisticated arms and the planned operations of the militants. The proposed special task force is yet to materialize not to speak of modem weapons and communication systems. The present task force headed by an assistant inspector general (AIG) is functioning from a makeshift office vulnerable to militant strikes The AIG is said to be: moving around in a borrowed vehicle. The inadequacy of the forces coupled with the lackadaisical attitude of the state government has resulted in the total failure of the administration: While: chief minister Kalyan Singh blames the Central government for the delay in providing the assured additional forces the Union. Government is yet to do anything concrete in this direction. Only35 companies have been deployed in the Terai region against the states demand for 30 more.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 17, 1992
