CHANDIGARH: The Governor of Punjab General Om Prakash Malhotra said here that the security set-up was being adequately strengthened by deploying more forces in the sensitive areas besides putting up more nakas and extensive patrolling at night throughout the state.

Presiding over the fourth meeting of the State Advisory Council held at Raj Bhavan here he said that determined efforts were being made to ensure that the Government’s writ prevailed in all spheres.

He said that when he took over as Governor the law and order situation in the state was in bad shape. But the concerted efforts had started yielding tangible results. The situation was showing signs of improvement in Chandigarh Amritsar Jalandhar and Ludhiana

Steps were being taken to strengthen the security in the rural areas Referring to one night’s killing of innocent people by militants near Hoshiarpur he asserted that the culprits would be nabbed soon and the guilty punished

The Governor thanked political parties for making the state-level Republic Day function at Tarn Taran a great success and in thwarting the bandh call given by militants’ outfits

To counter the militants’ propaganda he said he had met editors of newspapers published from Chandigarh and Jalandhar to ensure that any objectionable material which might vitiate the atmosphere and create a fear psychosis was not published.

He said the security forces were tightening their grip over the militants. The inflow of arms and ammunition from across the border had also been effectively checked to a great extent. This had unnerved the militants who were resorting to their old tactics of diverting the attention of the security forces by killing innocent persons.

He said the senior officers had been asked to prepare their monthly schedule to ensure the speedy execution of all ongoing developmental projects and prompt redressal of people’s grievances

The Governor said the publication of official journals like Advance and Jagriti (Hindi) would be resumed. The administration would not brook any militant’s pressure in the matter of transfers.

General Malhotra stated that he would meet leaders of political parties who were not participating in the deliberations of the council to sort out their problems so that they could also attend the meetings. He urged the people to put up a joint front against militants.

Some of the participants highlighted discrepancies in tackling the law and order situation in the state. While complementing the steps taken by the administration they said the first priority should be given to make the fight against the militants a mass movement for which the security environment should be adequately strengthened.

The members were also of the view that apart from the security set-up all other departments should gear up their activities to accelerate the pace of development.

Article extracted from this publication >> February 15, 1991