NEW DELHI: The commando outfits created by Punjab Police Chief K P S. Gill appear to have become eyesores for the leadership in many States, including Jammu & Kashmir. Gill’s blue-eyed boys are no more welcome anywhere. As a result, there is a ‘glut’ of these crack Commandos in Punjab, Where the law and order situation has been steadily improving Raising the Punjab commando battalions has been one of Gill’s pat projects with over 5,000 boys selected and trained from among the ranks of Punjab police since 1989. But now, the original idea of having these battalions double up as India’s reserve commando battalions to be played in troubles plots all over the country seems to have turned sour.
Of the five elite commando battalions, one had been dispatched to Assam, two to the Naxalite-infested Andhra Pradesh and the remaining two were scheduled to proceed to Doda in Jammu and Kashmir. But with Andhra Chief Minister NT Rama Rao deciding to make overtures to the People’s war Group (PWG), the Punjab police had been asked to take back the entire battalion comprising of 1.000 commandos
This seems to have caused a major disappointment to Gill’s favorite force which also recently lost five men in a landmine blast in the Naxalite belt
Worse still, J&K Gove Mor General K. V. Krishna Rao has asked the Center to desist from sending two commando battalions to his State The Union Home Ministry had felt the commandos could be extremely useful in the Doda valley to meet the challenge of the militants Besides. The deployment could facilitate the withdrawal of some CRPF force from that area. Gen Rao dispatched an message to New Delhi as soon as Srinagar was informed of the impending arrival of two Punjab commando battalions for the Doda operations. While the official explanation given is that it would not be judicious to withdraw the CRPF from Doda at this stage many attribute General Rao’s sudden change of heart to his dislike for Gill.
For some time, the Center has been toying with the idea of sending Gill, to J&K. but General Rao strongly resisted the move. It is likely that the Governor that the deployment of the commandos from Puniah could be a precursor to Gill’s arrival in the Valley
The decision has reportedly caused a lot of heartburn among commando ranks as they had been preparing intensely for the Doda assignment. Unlike other elite commando force, the National Security Guards (NSG), the Punjab sharpshooters cannot be used for routine security duties.
So, with the Doda deployment off and one battalion on its way back home from Andhra Pradesh, the highly motivated crack force will be presenting Gill with a problem of plenty.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 20, 1995
