CHUHAR CHAK (FARIDKOT): All 20 persons kidnapped by militants from Mchna and Chuhar Chak villages on the night of Jan 31 were released Sunday. They were kept hostage for 48 hours. Fourteen of them belong to Chuhar Chak while six were from Mehna village.
The militants had kidnapped in all 29 persons from the two villages and released nine of them at Mallan Dangian Bridge of the Abohar feeder after two hours of their kidnapping.
The residents of the two villages felt great relief as the kidnapped persons reached their homes safely and there were scenes of rejoicing and tears of joy as they joined their families
The kidnapped persons were happy with the treatment they received at the hands of the militants during their two-day stay with them. The released persons are not aware where they were taken But they simply know that they were kept in a big room where they were provided all facilities.
Dr Mathra Das (52) who is a retired personnel of the Army Medical Corps and is practicing as an registered medical practitioner in the village said that it was around 12:45 p.m. on the night of Jan 31 when two persons came to his house they were in khaki uniforms. They asked him to come out as the CRPF officer was in the village to locate some Shiv Sena men in the village.
His wife pleaded that he should not be taken away. They assured his wife that they would return him safe. They told her that they would not kill him.
He said that all 22 persons of Chuhar Chak village were collected near the village pond (Chhapar) and were put in a Allwyn Nissan. They had another vehicle with them. All of them were armed with AK-47 303 rifles and pistols and revolvers.
They were about a dozen in number. They did the screening at the canal bridge and left nine of the total 29 there.
Dr Mathra Das said that they were put in a truck at the canal bridge and were blindfolded.
The militants also fired indiscriminately at the canal bridge He felt that they must have fired about 250 rounds. After releasing the nine persons they asked them to go back to their homes and they were taken to an undisclosed place.
He did not know where they were taken He said that they traveled for about two hours in the truck. They took all 20 persons in a big room which had an attached bathroom. They were not allowed to move out of the room and were treated “very well”.
According to Dr Mathra Das the militants did not maltreat them at all Rather they were very polite with the younger members and respectful to the elders.
He said that they were served tea milk fruit dry fruits and food cooked with butter. They could get anything on demand.
Dr Mathra Das said that all militants looking after them would recite Gurbani twice in the morning and evening. The kidnapped persons were provided two quilts and two blankets. The militants did not have many wool clothes to cover them. But the kidnapped persons had their own woolen shawls with them.
The kidnapped persons were touched with the humility which they were treated by the militants and their hospitality.
When Dr Mathra Das was asked what was his impression of their being the followers of the Sikh religion and teachings he said that they were the best followers of the gurus teachings.
Dr Mathra Das and Mr Jagdish Rai and Mr Pawan Kumar said that they the militants fulfilled the promise they made with them. They promised that they would return them safely to their homes and would not cause any harm to them.
Dr Mathra Das Mr Jagdish Rai and Mr Pawan Kumar also disclosed that they were again blindfolded and taken in a truck around 9 p.m. As they reached near Jagraon they were made to get down and their eyes were opened. They said that the militants stopped a matador and put all of them in the same and directed the driver to drop them at Chuhar Chak village.
The tempo driver dropped all the 20 near Mata Mandir at Chuhar Chak after the 48 hour ordeal Six residents of Mehna went to their village.
According to Dr Mathra Das the militants before leaving their undisclosed destination performed ardas”. They also prayed.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 8, 1991
