NEW DELHE: By a curious coincidence, India announced the capture of a massive haul of weapons and explosives from Sikh militants at Bathinda even as United States official began talks with Indian authorities on May 17.

The announcement regarding the capture of the weapons and explosives was made by Punjab police chief, K.P.S.Gill, who flew to Bathinda on the very day the U.S. official, John Malott, was to land at Delhi.

The seized weapons included 31 AK47 rifles, 2 general purpose machine guns, I dragon rifle, 2 self-loading rifles, 113 AK47 rifle magazines, 15000 cartridges, 70 hand grenades, 70 kgs of high explosives (RDX), 78 detonators, 200 meters of cordex wire and 7 live bombs. Gill said these weapons were Gill said these weapons were captured after encounters with militants headed by Sher Singh Gumti Kalan who was killed in the exchange of fire with Gill’s forces.

 Atmosphere for talks between Indian officers and Malott became exceptionally congenial, The U.S. official had, in fact, issued ‘a statement on the eve of his departure for India that what was happening in Kashmir and Punjab was “terrorism” (a term used by India against the armed fight for freedom by the Kashmir and Sikh militants) and that it was being sponsored by Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence agency. He further stated that the U.S. administration was “informally” watching Pakistan whether it should be declared as a “terrorist State.”

On its part, India announced the arms capture to fully match the sentiments expressed by the U.S. deputy assistant secretary of state in Southeast Asia division. The announcement was done by K.P.S.Gill who now expects Indian government to reward him by making him governor of some state. Gill is quite close to the Indian ruling Congress(1) and had at the lime Of S.S.Ray’s governorship of Punjab had assured Delhi that things would be so arranged as to ensure the victory of eight or nine Congress(I) candidates out of 13 Punjab seats.

Even in the course of this week’s electioneering in Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency, Gill’s forces are learning away the wail posters pasted by supporters of Akali candidate Ajit Singh Bains, an allegation repeatedly made by Simranjit Singh Mann.

Article extracted from this publication >>  May 21, 1993