CHANDIGARH: The number of persons killed in violence in the trouble tom state of Punjab during last year was considerably less than the toll in 1988.
‘The year, 1989 saw 1,800 killings including that of 699 freedom fighters, 500 less than the year before,
However the number of freedom fighters killed shot up from just 324 in 1988 while the number of freedom fighters arrested decreased to 2,446 from 3,714 in the previous year.
According to official figures available here, the maximum number of killings 120, took place in November and the lowest, 75 in September. The same month saw the killing of the largest number of freedom fighters, 94. The lowest number 34, were killed in February.
The year saw the killing of 182 policemen. The victims of violence included over 100 women and 10 children, 38 politicians belonging to the Congress (I), the Bhartiya Janata Party, the two communist parties and various Akali groups were also among the victims.
The Sikh militants are demanding a separate state for the Sikhs to be known as Khalistan,
The rural areas were the worst hit by the violence. About 992 people from rural areas were gunned down as against the 119 killed in the urban areas.
Twenty five bank branches were looted and 190 other robbery. Cases were registered who also looted arms, jewelry and other valuables.
There were also 800 other cases against the militants, but not a single conviction was made.
A large number of arms and ammunition recovered included 421 Chinese assault rifles, 240 rockets, 33 rocket launchers and 90,000 rounds of ammunition.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 26, 1990
