AMRITSAR: The Chief Minister Beant Singh has expressed confidence that the Punjab police assisted by the security forces had achieved a” complete upper hand” over the militants in the border districts of Gurdaspur and Amritsar by wiping out a number of top militants besides forcing many of them to flee from the border districts. Many of them have taken shelter in the hideouts in other states.

The Chief Minister stated this after visiting an exhibition of weapons recovered during June from Amritsar Gurdaspur Majitha Tam Taran and Batala districts here.

Reacting to the Prime Minister’s statement in Punjab the Chief Minister told newsmen here that he stood for the implementation of the Rajiv-Longowal accord and “this is the only package I can think of. I am firm on getting the accord implemented” he said hastening to add that “modifications if necessary could be discussed and added to the accord.” ‘The Chief Minister categorically denied that had ever discussed any sort of package deal which would benefit the state with Rao. He maintained that though the Union Home Minister had spoken of a package (Beant) had been misquoted by the press in this issue. Briefing the Chief Minister Beant Singh about the recent achievements the security forces border range inspector general of police (IGP) Dr. Bhatti said during the last month there had been a perceptible decline in the crime rate due to some effective and well-coordinated offensive operations launched against the militants.

The Chief Minister who was shown the arms and ammunition recovered from the militants while praising the security force personal of the border range told newsmen that the pressure against the militants would be maintained

Dishing out statistical figures Bhatti said that in June 123 militants had been shot dead as against just 32 in the same month last year in the border area. Forty six other militants had been arrested following incumbers and raids conducted by the areas

He said the gang which suffered the most was the Bhinderale Tigers Force (BTF) led by the Panthic Committee member Combachan Singh Manochahal. The firing of its deputy chief Surjit Singh Behla along with eight of his associates at Behla village on June 9 was the first major jolt the gang received.

This was followed by the arrest of the outfits newly-appointed deputy chief Dilbagh Singh Bagga and four others by the Amritsar police. The Manochal group of the BTF had virtually been neutralized.

Giving further details Bhatti which had taken over as the IGP of the border range last month said another gang which had been wiped out was the newly formed outfit of Bhindjanwale Security Force of Khalistan (BSFK) led by a ranking militant Sukhdev Singh Guijjar. While five members of the gang had been shot dead by Tarn Taran police Sukhdev and his one associate were gunned down by the Amritsar police.

Referring to the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) led by the Parmajit Singh Panjjwar the IGP said the outfit had also suffered following the killing of two of its hit men Jaswinder Singh and Sukhwinder Singh Dhilla by the Majitha police The gunning down of Ranjit Singh Rana described by the IGP as a ruthless killer had formed the Khalistan Liberation Force (KLF).

Low in the border range he said Rana had been responsible for the massacre of nine members of the community at Bhangali village of March this year which was followed by another massacre of seven persons at Pandori Warachi village he added.

Article extracted from this publication >> July 17, 1992