According to the figures released to the Press by the Govt of Punjab a total number of 2457 militants have been killed in Punjab from Apr.190 to May 3191 a PHRO(Bains)press release says. Out of these names of 688 have been given. The remaining 1769 being listed as un-identified suspected terrorists only in about 26 cases the bodies were handed over to next of kin It was under great public pressure when people in thousands surrounded the concerned police stations that bodies were handed over. All others being disposed of /cremated mostly at night clearly this is being done to hide the deaths in police custody on account of torture and killings in fake encounters of the innocent Amritdhari Sikh youth. These figures have been compiled from the Tribune group of papers. Almost 85% of these are fake encounters and shown to be taken place at night only. Even the Bhog ceremony (A collective Prayer held after the recitation of Holy Guru Granth Sahib for the eternal peace of the Departed soul) are not allowed to take place
Of the militants killed during the given period police says that 378 dead bodies of un-identified militants were found these were killed in intergang rivalries. Police found another 132 bullet ridden dead bodies these also they say are of militants.
It astonishes this organization as to how Punjab police can find out that these dead bodies and the bullet ridden bodies (which they otherwise say are un-identified) are of militants
So far Govt of Punjab have not released the list of wanted Militants. Various human rights organizations have asked for this from time to time.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 9, 1991
