CANDIGARH, India: The Punjab government has decided to raise armed volunteer force in about 40 villages in the State.
The force is to be set up on the pattern of the scheme evolved for setting up village defense and development committees. Firearms will be provided by the Government.
Two to four selected villages in each district which are prone to attacks are likely to have units of this force soon. More villages will have such units later in the light of the experience gained in the villages selected in the first instance.
The government is worried over the increase in communal feelings in Batala, Pathankot and Samana towns and in Ludhiana city. it has asked district officials to take steps to prevent the development of such a situation in the future. The district officers are being asked to submit weekly reports on the law and order and general situation in the State.
Article extracted from this publication >> June 17, 1988
