CHANDIGARH: Harjinder Singh Jinda, a freedom fighter and Sukhwant Singh Akawali, a leader of the All-India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) were among the 29 people killed in unabated violence in the strife-tom Punjab state over the last four days.

There was an unsuccessful attempt on the life of an assistant superintendent of police in Tarn Tarn District and up two meters of rail track in the Amritsar-Jalandhar section was blown up with a powerful bomb during the small period.

About Rs. 400,000 was looted from a Punjab and Sind Bank Branch in Patiala district, the security forces nabbed five freedom fighters and seized large chache of arms and ammunition in Bhatinada district.

In an encounter with security forces on Monday night Harjinder Singh alias Jinda who carried a reward of Rs 25,000/-on his head, was killed near village Roar Butran in Batala police district. The other person killed was identified as Manjit Singh Tibrai of Gurdaspur.

Some armed persons shot dead Akawali near Mansa bus stand in Bhatinda district on Monday night. Some persons tried to overpower the assailants but they managed to escape leaving behind a revolver.

Personnel of the border security force (BSF) were injured when some gunmen ambushed a BSF post in Wadala Banger area Monday night.

On return fire the gunmen fled. Six empties of AK-47 were recovered from the spot.

A police party headed by Jasminder Singh, assistant superintendent of police, Patti in Tam Taran police district escaped unhurt when ambushed near the railway line outside village Kairon ‘on Monday.

On Monday about two meters of the rail track between Butari and Beas railway stations on the main Amritsar-Jalandhar section of the northern railways was blown off with a powerful explosive device.

Reports said the explosion occurred when a goods train from Amritsar to Ludhiana was passing. Cover it. There was minor damage to a few bogies of the train.

The Ludhiana police arrested five men and seized arms and ammunition from them.

Meanwhile, a strike was observed at Mansa and Budhlada towns of Bathinda district following the killing of AISSF leader, Akawali, All school and colleges remained closed.

Article extracted from this publication >> January 26, 1990