CHANDIGARH: The police budget, which has reached the vicinity of Rs 400 crore, would go up during 199394 in view of the general rise in the cost of equipment, deamess allowance, medical expenses of injured security men, and general maintenance of the force announced the CM, Beant Singh at a conference of the State’s senior police staff.
In their feedback report the SSPs present stated that the number of active militants was 500, though only 150 of them belonged to the hardcore factions, It was also stated at the meeting that a large number of militants had escaped to other States including: Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. The Pakistan factor in the Punjab trouble was as much relevant as before and a strict watch would have to be maintained to keep its play in check.
KPS Gill to Continue: Beant Singh said that the Punjab DGP would continue to lead the police Operation in Punjab and there was no question of his being sent to a different state. However, the services of the army may not be required in a big way. When asked if the troops deployed for anti-militancy operations were being sent back to the barracks, the Chief Minister shot back, “they are always in the barracks and are called out as and when needed.” Beant Singh confirmed that he would not object to the visit of the Amnesty International to the State to assess the situation. Some senior police officers were of the view that Jet the Amnesty satisfy its curiosity about Punjab, It was better to let the human rights body come and see the atrocities committed by militants. The Chief Minister was told at the meeting that the rate of militant killings was reaching zero level, Only two civilians and seven policemen were killed in Jopury.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 12, 1993
