WSN News Analyses
The gunning down OF what the Hindu/Cong media Calls Sikh Khalistan Martyrs Dreaded Punjab Terrorists” Gurcharan Singh Manochahal, chief of Bhindranwale Tiger Force Victory for the Punjab police in their fight against terrorism. Delhi Morninger, “The Pioneer” an editorial said Punjab militants have been “reeling in the face of a determined police onslaught for some months now and Manochahal’s death will deal them a crippling blow.”
The paper, however warned that the battle was not yet over and said Punjab police chief KP.S.Gill’s declaration that “we have won” is rather ‘premature.
It said any Iet up by an overconfident police chief or political blunder by the leadership in Chandigarh or New Delhi can result in the tables being turned on it, A statement which at least honestly acknowledges that (Braggadocio) in the face of the guerrilla struggle will not win.
The Tribune” said the death of Manochahal can be a “turning point” in the state’s fight against terrorism that should perhaps “signify the end of destructive phase of police militant violence which has lasted for close to eight years.” Alluding to the shameful “Operation Bluestar’ of 1984.
The paper goes on to say that Punjab can now took forward to a Spell of undisturbed peace and normal socioeconomic political activities, in hopes of placating pacifists on all sides.
The Hindu” said Manochahal death “was a blow to the extremist movement” and “now is the time for the center to make meaningful moves to consolidate the gains already registered on the law and order front.”
Delhi’s largest circulated paper, “The Hindustan Times”, which carried a front page report from Manochahal’s village, said the people of Rataul were “simply overwhelmed over his killing.” The report said though some of the people were hesitant to express their views openly, the paper minced no words in saying that public was feeling relieved after his (Manochahal’s) death.
The paper in an editorial said the death of Manochahal in a police encounter “marks yet another triumph for the police in its relentless campaign against scourge of terrorism.
Calling Manochahal’s death as the “crowning achievement” of one year of Punjab chief minister Beant Singh the paper said, that ‘one of Punjab’s most dreaded militant has died un honored and unsung should be standing lesson for a few misguided elements that still remain.”
Yet they stated what the majority wanted to hear, denigrating the heros of the sovereignty movement and misreading the attitudes of those who felt the lathi blows and whose families grieve the loss of yet another saint soldier will only serve to inflame the Khalsa warriors.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 5, 1993
