AMRITSAR: Eight Sikh militants fought nearly 20000 Indian armed forces for two days before being killed in Rataul Village in this district last week.
Baba Gurbachan Singh Manochahal chief of Bhindranwale Tiger Force of Khalistan in a statement praised the killed militants as martyrs for the cause of Khalistan whose bravery would go down in Punjab’s history as unparalleled after the 1984 operation Bluestar side included five killed including “border range D.I.G. Ajit Singh and an unnamed army Lance Corporal and eight injured. The injured Indian security forces included Tarn Taran S.S.P. Narinderpal Singh DSP Sukhdev Singh Bhawi and SHO Verowal Surinderpal Singh. From the Sikh side the causalities’ included eight killed. These were Lakhminder Singh Lakha of Takhtochak Mehar Singh Fauji Harinder Singh Pehalwan and Joginder Singh. The security forces detained Dilbagh Singh Bagha of Rataul for being an associate of the militants.
The Army first denied its involvement and falsely told the Press that none of its men had been killed but it transpired that it was not so. Nearly 1000 Indian Armymen participated in the battle and a Major-General inspected the spot after it was all over. The name of the Major-General was Sharda.
Akali leader Simranjit Singh Mann who later visited the village reported that the Gorkha troops were used by the Indian Government against the Sikh militants Mann criticized the use of the Gorkhas as contrary to assurances that Gorkhas would not be used for putting down internal strife’s in India.
The Army used rockets and incendiary bombs to blast the houses used by the militants after the population was evacuated. The concrete roof of one of the houses collapsed under the impact of the Army shelling. The militants used six AK-47 rifles one 303 rifle one rocket launcher and one sniper rifle.
The Army later said that the causalities’ in its side were caused mostly by the machine gun.
The village it is said was frequented by Baba Manochahal and during the initial blockade and exchange of firing lasting one day it was suspected that Ba Manochahal had been trapped! subsequently it became clear U the top militant leader had escaped from that village either during the operation or prior to the blockade. In any case Baba Manochahal issued a public statement after the incident to show that he was safe and sound.
Observers feel the intelligence agencies came to know of Baba Manochahal’s hide out in the wake of his involvement in the electoral politics and his frequent consultations with leaders of AISSF functioning loosely.
Article extracted from this publication >> May 17, 1991
