AMRTISAR, India Gunmen shot and killed two people in Punjab Friday, and Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala warned that a recent upsurge of violence could force the imposition of martial law.
Two gunmen in a horse drawn cart shot and killed social worker Makhan Singh and Constable Bhajan Singh, his bodyguard, who ‘were on their way to a funeral in the village of Ghuman Kalan, about 240 miles northwest of New Delhi, The killers escaped.
‘The victims were on their way to the funeral of Jatinder Singh Ghuman, a member of the Akali Dal party also slain by unknown gunmen. More than 23 people have died in the past month in shootings by unidentified gunmen; Authorities however blame Sikhs fighting for independence in the predominantly Sikh state of Punjab in northern India,
Barnala, who attended Ghuman’s funeral, said “the worst could happen” if his 5-month old moderate Akali Dah government collapses. State elections last September ended federal rule imposed in Punjab following an outbreak of violence in 1983. “Every Punjabi must realize his
responsibility and save Punjab which was at a dangerous crossroad ‘and may lead to the imposition of martial law,” Bamala said. Barnala blamed the recent violence on “some inimical forces at work to stabilized the Akali government.”
‘The chief minister repeated accusations that Pakistan is training ‘Sikhs and sending them into neighboring Punjab.
The chief minister repeated accusations that Pakistan is training Sikhs and sending them into neighboring Punjab.
His speech came after two days of clashes between Sikh radicals and Hindus.
Four people were killed in the town of Batala on Wednesday when activists of the once outlawed All India Sikh Students Federation fought Hindus protesting the recent slaying of a rightwing Hindu leader by gunmen.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 28, 1986
