The number of forces deployed around Golden Temple Complex was about 5000 while the number of militant inmates.
Given out by official estimates was less than 100. Most modern type of weapons such as Swedish telescopic guns and night vision gadgets were used by the security forces. The number of those killed inside the complex was said to be although there is no authentic information on the vital subject. Not a scratch was suffered by any member of the security forces except of course a jaw injury by D.I.G. Virk.
There is evidence to suggest that the militants did not fire at any time during nine days of the operation. They had meagre ammunition and the range of their rifles was short. The militants, of course, were waiting for the security forces to enter the complex upon which they would have fired. Persistent media reports about “exchange of fire” are not borne out by the P.H.R.O. investigations. The Government version that the militants were the first to fire to hit D.I.G. Virk is one-sided and remains to be substantiated in view of what has been told to the P.H.R.O. team. There is counter evidence that the 11.1.6. himself undertook the demolition of a wall atop the Karah Prashad building within the complex and entered into alternation with militants and it was D.I.G.’s security guard who was the first to’ fire.
There is circumstantial evidence to indicate that the security forces were looking for an opportunity to strike because the operation had been planned well in advance. Even on April 26-27, the C.R.P.F. men took Santokh Singh Kala along in a demonstrable manner inspecting buildings around the complex presumably in the hope that the militants would hit Kala who to them is a sworn foe. The security forces tested their guns on April 29 but the Press was told that a Babbar Khalsa man had entered the complex, necessitating the use of fire power.
Excessive Use of Force
The foregoing discussion points to the excessive use of force by the security forces. Even devotees, women and children and journalists were not spared. On the first day of firing, among the five killed was a limbless sewadar, who could not by any stretch of imagination use any weapon.
The fact that the security forces. had perched themselves atop strategic positions and were equipped with telescopic gun with deadly accuracy and had killed the inmates after due identification and recognition, “one by one” as Indian Express put it, is a sufficient pointer to the violation of due process of law. Despite a promise made to the P.H.R.O. by the Deputy Commissioner, Amritsar, those killed have not been identified and listed for public benefit nor were their bodies cremated in a humane manner.
Contrary to official claims, the inmates were denied the use of electricity and water. Women and children suffered the most. All the militants killed inside did not fall in morchas and fortifications, but while trying to fetch water. This position could not be called adherence to norms of human rights.
11hai Jasbir Singh and other rathedars wanted to enter the complex at “their own risk and responsibility” but they were not let in. Instead, they were arrested. Besides, there was disruption of “Maryada” inside. These acts of the security forces run counter to fundamental rights “guaranteed” by articles 19 and 25 of the Constitution.
A Policy of Pick and Choose
The U.A.D. leaders like Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhlinder Singh, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa and others and B.K.U. leaders like Ajmer Singh Lakhowal, Gurbachan Singh Bhamian, Manmohan Singh Hawas etc. were not allowed to peacefully demonstrate and to visit the Golden Temple complex and were arrested. They are in jail even after more than a month of their arrest. There has been a policy of pick and choose. Men like Baba Joginder Singh, Harcharan Singh Rode, Surjit Singh Barnala etc. have been released. Bade!, Sukhjinder Singh and others have been arrested under the National Security Act and have been deported to jails thousands of kilometers away from Punjab. All this treatment of U.A.D. leaders amounts to the violations of their human and democratic rights.
The P.H.R.O. strongly resents the excessive use of force, killing of men by security forces, denial of water and electricity to the Golden Temple complex inmates., The P.H.R.O. feels that the entire operation was not aimed at punishing the guilty or discouraging the use of private
Punjab Buttdozed violence but was aimed principally at compelling the militant groups to fall in line with Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode and open talk with the Government. Thus the main motive behind the operation was plain politics.
