CHANDIGARH: The Uttar Pradesh police will use incentives and combat hard wares successfully tested in Punjab to control militancy in the Terai region of the State.

Six police officers from UP on a study tour of Punjab told newsmen on Sept.9 that they were impressed by the techniques employed by their Punjab counterparts to curb the menace.

During three-day itinerary in the border police districts of Amritsar, Majitha and Tarn Taran, they found that hard intelligence provided by the people and other incentives had built up much needed tactical support to ant militancy operations.

Director General Police, Punjab, KP.S.Gill, at whose residence the officers met newsmen, was of the view that after disappointment with the Sikh militants, Pakistans notorious InterService Intelligence (ISI) was trying to encourage Muslim militancy in India. The mischief would fail as it did in Punjab.

The visiting officers were Pilibhit SSP Anil Raturi, Lakimpur Kheri SSP O.P. Singh, Shajahanpur, ASP Manmohan Kumar Bashal, $.P.(Intelligence) $.N.Singh, SP (Operations) Nainital K.M.Pandey and Additional SP Saharanpur Rajesh Kumar Rai.

They said the terai region consisting of 22 militancy afflicted districts, was a vast region of forces and sugar cane fields providing cover to troublemakers.

Answering questions, they said there were reports that the ISI planned to foment trouble in the State, both militant and communal. The State Government was taking precautions and using intelligence received from Punjab and elsewhere to preempt any mischief. They also said the UP police was fully motivated to combat Pakistan inspired militancy coming from any section. The officers denied the charge of police atrocities against the Sikh settled in the area.

Article extracted from this publication >>  September 17, 1993