NEW DELHI: All shades of Army opinion are against the force’s involvement in Punjab.
According to Lt. Gen Mathew Thomas, a former Corps Commander, it was generally felt that such involvement levied a heavy cost on the institutional framework of the Army.
He has made this point in the editorial of the coming issue of the “Indian Defense Review” which is to be released shortly.
Clarifying that it was not his intention to advocate the induction of the Army into Punjab to defeat terrorism and create a climate for a free and fair political process, General Thomas says, “and yet in a worst case scenario, who but the Army can prevent the disintegration and fragmentation of the country.” police atrocities. Mr. Bains said that the villagers are dismayed and depressed against the behavior of the police. The two teams of PHRO investigated and interviewed the various sections of the society. As per findings of the two teams registration of false cases, torture, extortion of money, elimination of Sikh youths, are some of the tactics resorted by the police. The report added that the police was also sending decoit gangs to the villages during the night for extorting money in the garb of militants. During the day, the villagers are nabbed under the charge of harboring militants in the same set of villages. In some cases the entire village was asked to come out and was tortured and hurled insults.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 3, 1989
