CHANDIGARH: The Punjab commando battalion sent to Andhra Pradesh for anti-militant operations is finally back on home soil with the last batch of 100-odd troops trickling in on Jan. 23, it is learned from reliable sources.
The newly elected N.T. Rama Rao Government had announced that it would not require the services of the Punjab commandos and the final withdrawal was made after the modalities had been worked out with the Central Government.
The commandos, who had been sent against their wishes had proved to be a major embarrassment for the Punjab Police top brass as they had resorted to unprovoked firing under the influence of alcohol and some of them had to be placed under restriction.
Lack of cooperation from the local police who considered the Punjab boys to be “outsiders” was a major handicap for them and they suffered a major setback when five of them, including the commandant of the battalion, were killed in a Naxalite ambush.
Article extracted from this publication >> January 27, 1995
