NEW DELHI, Reuter: Gunmen ended a six day Toll in violence in the northern state of Punjab, killing a brick kiln owner and two companions on a rural road, the Press Trust of India (PTY) said.
The News Agency said the three were killed by two men on a motor scooter who fired a sub machine gun into a car carrying Tarsem Kumar and two others near Moga, a town about 150 km (90 miles) east of the State Capital, Chandigarh.
It was the first shooting in Punjab since August 18 when factory worker was shot dead by armed attackers and brought the death toll this month to 10, far below the evil of violence in the State in previous months.
The reduced number of killings reflected intensified security and recent arrests of rebel leaders.
Police in Punjab said that they have arrested a prime suspect in the murder of moderate Sikh leader Harchand Singh Longowal who was shot just after he signed a peace pact with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, PTI reported.
Police said Gurmail Singh was arrested near Bhatinda town after he was recognized by police. They said he fled to Pakistan last Nov ember but retuned to India sometime in February.
Longowal, head of the moderate Sikh dominated Akali Dal Party, was shot by gunmen at a Sikh shrine on August 20, last year.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 29, 1986
