JALANDHAR: Gobind Ram, former Senior Superintendent of police, Batala, but better known as the “butcher” and three policemen were killed and 15 others were injured in a powerful bomb blast at the Punjab Armed Police lines here on Jan 10.
The policemen killed were Sub-Inspector Prem Kumar and Constables Chhotu Ram and Madan Lal. Of the 15 admitted to hospital, the condition of four is said to be critical. They are Harjinder Kaur and Savita, stenographers Head Constable Bhagwant Singh, Ram’s driver and Parkash Singh constable.
The device either a time bomb or remote controlled bomb exploded in Gobind Ram’s office. The building suffered major damage as many doors and’ windows were blown off and a verandah collapsed. A fire broke out on the ground floors; all windows on the second floor were also shattered. Several vehicles parked nearby including Ram’s car were badly damaged.
Gobind Ram died on the spot. His legs and the night side of his face were completely blown off.
There were around 25 persons in or near the office at 12:25 pm when the blast occurred. The 30 CRPF men on security duty for Ram who were near the building escaped unhurt.
Izhar Alam, D.I.G. PAP whose office is also in the complex was first to reach the spot and supervise relief work.
Soon after the blast the CRPF and PAP tightened security allowing no one near the building. Even pressmen were not allowed in till 4 pm.
Ram was on the militant’s hit list after using strong arm tactics and especially his vain boast “you have seen (Guru) Gobind Singh now see Gobind Ram.”
He personally tortured women and children. An outcry over this had led to his being transferred from Batala to the PAP lines in Jalandhar.
“There is justice still” and “the good has once again triumphed over evil” were two comments this correspondent overheard while ‘waiting to get inside the PAP lines.
‘Soon after his transfer to lines in September Ram’s son, Rajan Bains was shot dead outside the local DAV college.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 19, 1990
