NANAK MATA: The threat of reprisal by Punjab militants looms large in the Terai region. The killing of 10 pilgrims by the Pilibhit district police on July 13 has already invited their wrath. Within 16 hours of the “dubious” encounters Punjab militants operating in the Terai region struck at three places Shahjehanpur Naini Tal and Bijnore-and gunned down five policemen including a Station officer besides killing three persons in bomb explosions. This is believed to be the just the beginning. Reliable sources said that atleast a dozen groups of Punjab militants had come together to avenge the killings. Intelligence agencies ‘describe the development in the ‘Terai region as serious and hold the police action on July 13 responsible for the increase in militant activity in the area. In Shahjehanpur where four policemen were gunned down Samam Singh “Cheema” alias Chehina a Punjab militant himself led the attack The Pilibhit police had claimed to have gunned down “Cheema” in an encounter about five months ago.

Similarly a group of Punjab militants led by Balvinder Singh “Binda” was responsible for killing a constable in Bijnore and the bomb explosions that claimed three lives in Naini Tal district on the same day.

What has alarmed intelligence agencies is the coming together of Punjab militants groups. The Binda group and the Cheema group which were earlier at war have now come to an understanding. The events of July 13 have brought them closer the sources said. At least 10 other splinter groups have also come together making it more difficult for the police to combat them in the treacherous Terai terrain.

SIKHS SHOCKED: Shock anger and despair at the fake encounters is evident in the. entire Terai region This became clear when a member of the Nanak Mata Sahib Gurdwara Committee exhorted a group of youth to take up arms and prepare for a long struggle. “We cannot remain a mute witness to the ghastly killing of our boys by the state force” he said.

Intelligence agencies apprehend that alienation of local Sikhs will provide a breeding ground for militancy in Terai region. In fact the clumsy administrative handling of the Sikhs here is responsible for the infiltration of more militants into the region. Sikhs comprise a large part of the region’s population.

Initially when militancy in Terai was in its nascent stage the police had unleashed a reign of terror and persecuted innocent Sikh farmers for allegedly harboring militants. In 1985 when the movement of one or two militant groups was noticed the police ignored the menace and instead started large-scale extortions from the Sikhs The UP police launched a concerted effort to combat the militants only when the then IG (Bareilly zone) Tripuresh Tripathi supervised combing operations in the forests. The operations were however stopped suddenly when Mr Tripathi was abruptly transferred and replaced by one of the most controversial police officers Mr A.P.Mishra.

TURBULENT TENURE: Mr Mishra’s tenure as IG (Bareilly zone) was the most turbulent period in the Terai when the police extorted money and intimidated Sikh farmers. Several fake encounters were enacted while the state administration turned a blind eye.

Most of the police officers posted in Naini Tal Pilibhit and Shahjehanpur are facing serious charges. The previous SSP Naini Tal Mr B.K.Bhola had been charged with misconduct. In the recent past the home secretary Mr A.K.Rastogi went out of the way to favor the Pilibhit SP. Mr.R.D.Tripathi who was involved in the massacre of innocent people in Maliana in Meerut. Though Mr Tripathi was denied promotion because of the charges Mr Rastogi got him posted in Pilibhit district even in the face of stiff opposition by senior officers. The fake encounters in Pilibhit were allegedly masterminded by Mr Tripathi and his additional superintendent of police Mr Brijendra Sharma. :

Even senior police officers in Lucknow admitted that for the past four years most of the senior officers in the region did not have clean records. The local Sikhs have been totally alienated as a result. However they were shocked at the justification of the fake encounters in Pilibhit by the UP home minister Mr Surya Pratap Sahi and the health minister Dr Dinesh Javhari.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 26, 1991