AMRITSAR: An attempt to assassinate former Akal Takhat Jathedar Kirpal Singh was made on March 25 at his residence in Ajit Nagar here.
No one was injured in the incident in which two persons on a motor scooter opened fire on Kirpal Singh. Security guards retuned fire but the assailants escaped.
Jathdear Kirpal Singh shot into prominence when he went on government controlled national TV after the 1984 assault on the Golden Temple by the Indian army in which thousands of innocent people were killed.
He said that the Harimandir Shaib and the Akal Takhat were not damaged in the attack. The statement was later found to be false. He was subsequently removed by the sarbat khalsa,
Police claimed to have killed Gurmej Singh, alias Gen. Hari Singh or Baba of the Khalistan Commando Force, Paramjit Singh alias Gandasa of the Bhindrawala Tiger Force and’ an unidentified accomplice in an “encounter” near Bandowal village in Hoshiarpur. Police had put a price of Rs 50,000 and Rs 25,000 on their heads.
Seven people were arrested on charges of “harboring terrorists” by Kalanaur police in Gurdaspur. Local people protested the arrest of Makhan Singh, Sardul Singh, Gurmej Singh, Ravel Singh, Gurdip Singh, Bakshish Singh and Balwinder Singh and said they were innocent men harassed by the police.
Joginder Pal, a teacher was shot dead by some unidentified people at the Nawasahir bus stand in Jullandhar District on March 24.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 31, 1989
