LUDHIANA: The residents of Ahmedgarh 30 km from here where 15 persons were shot dead last night have alleged that when the militants struck four home guards on duty fled from the scene while a patrol party of the paramilitary forces fired in the air but did not give chase.
But an ex-lance naik of the army Jamail Singh Fauji did not lose his nerve when the militants tried to barge into his house. His children and those of his neighbors were watching a film on television. He bolted the door from outside and barred their way.
But the desperadoes beat him up with rifle butts and then shot his wife dead. His four-year-old daughter was injured in the shootout.
Ahmedgarh today observed a complete bandh. According to the SSP Sangrur Mr Narinder Pal Singh another brigade of the Army has been inducted into the district to help the police and Para-military forces. Sangrurhad witnessed the killing of 15 engineers and managers.
According to the shopkeepers and Gandhi Chowk where the killings took place there were four to five militant’s who had divided themselves. One headed for Gandhi Chowk and the other went towards Chhapar road.
They were armed with the familiar AK-47 rifles. The killers apparently came on foot but fled in a Gypsy van.
The shopkeepers complained that if the police had reacted promptly the killers would have been caught.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 3, 1992
