NEW DELHI: Punjab Police chief K.P.S.Gill, on Dec.10 defended translate antiterrorist’s raids in killing fleeing militants.

Addressing a news conference here in connection with the two day international Punjabi folk sammelan, currently on in the Capital, Gill said that there had been a positive response to and cooperation with the Punjab Police in its antiterrorist operations in other states.

Asked if he supported the concept of launching ant militancy operations in states other than his own, Gill replied, “If Iraq could be attacked and Libyan leader Gaddafi’s palace bombed merely on grounds of suspicion, what prevents us from capturing ultras hiding in other states when we have specific tipoffs.”

“We must remember militancy is a menace to our society and we must curb it at any cost,” Gill added.

Gill claimed that militancy in Punjab had been “wiped out” because of the “total, unstinted support of the public and the political leadership.”

He described as “unfortunate,” the muted response of the people of Punjab when militancy was at its peak. “But now things are different and the people are openly coming out in providing information about the terrorists, this is indeed a healthy sign.”

Asked whether the militancy had been dealt with effectively following the 90% fencing of the international border in Punjab, Gill said it was one of the reasons “but not the major reason.”

He said the major reason for the success of the ant militancy drive in the state was political support and public cooperation.

He claimed that the infiltration of terrorists from the Punjab border had come to a complete halt. All recruitment of youths from Punjab in the militant’s cadre had been stopped.

“The ISI (Pakistan’s secret service) is today a confused lot,” Gill added.

Gill said no terrorists remained in Punjab now.

“We have stopped using the categories hardcore and soft-core. The terrorists are now described only as active and passive,” he stated.

When asked to explain the reasons for the big presence of Indian Army and Central forces in the State, the Police Chief said they were required to keep militancy in check.

Article extracted from this publication >>  December 17, 1993