CHANDIGARH: The AISSF protest against repeated entry of Police in the Golden Temple is assuming grave proportions in Punjab. A large contingent of Police raided the Golden Temple complex again on the night of November 6-7 and searched Guru Ram Dass Serai, Guru Nanak Niwas, Akal. Rest house offices of United Akali Dai and some rooms of Parikarma this was the third raid by police after Akalis assumed control of government in Punjab. On all three occasions the police found no ‘wanted persons’ or objectionable material in the complex. Again on the night November 6-7 and searched Guru Ram Dass Serai, Guru Nanak Niwas, Akal. Rest houses offices of United Akali Dal and some rooms of Parikarma. This was the third raid by police after Akalis assumed control of government in Punjab. On all three occasions the police found no ‘wanted persons’ or objectionable material in the complex. However, the police arrested AISSF General Secretary Mukhwinder Singh Sandhu. AISSF observed strike on 7,8 & 9 November in Punjab colleges and also kept traffic jammed for hours together at various places. Clashes between the Federation workers and the police reportedly took place at Jalandhar and Amritsar when police tried to remove the road blocks, the students were protesting against police entry into the Golden Temple and the arrest of Mukhwinder Singh. AISSF acting President Harjinder SIngh Kahlon has also called for a general strike in Punjab Colleges on November 14,
According to sources, the purpose of police raid on the night of Nov 6 & 7 was to look for suspected killers of the Head Constable Madan Lal who was shot dead by unknown assailants on November 6 when he was working in his office. His body-guard Mr. Ram Lubhaya also succumbed to the injuries later in the hospital,
While searching for the killers a large police force under the command of S.P. attacked a village in Amritsar district but the killers again escaped after shooting a constable dead.
In another incident the Hindu Suraksha chief of Phillaur, Mr. Vijay Kumar Bakshi was shot dead in his shop by two persons on November 9. His companion Mr. Ajit Kuman Passi who was injured in the attack also died in the hospital.
The killers escaped after the attack. On November 7 a Nirankari leader Mr. Karam Singh ran to safety when two persons opened fire at him. Last year Karam Singh’s son-in-law was shot dead. It has been learnt that Punjab government has decided to close the colleges to meet the challenge of growing protests by the AISSF. It is believed that all colleges would be closed after the Diwali.
Article extracted from this publication >> November 18, 1988
