HANDIGARH, India: Mr. J.F. Ribeiro, the Director General of Punjab Police and Secretary to Government Punjab for Internal Security has refuted a press statement attributed to him as being issued from Kapurthala that the police in future will not indulge in the policy of bullet for bullet. The police chief categorically declared that the policy of bullet for bullet will never be abandoned and will continue till the violence is completely wiped out. The police boss admitted that basically the Punjab problem is a political one but violence is a law and order problem, he declared.
Mr. Ribeiro asked a counter question to the newsmen how a policeman with a gun in his hand can be expected not to use it if he is attacked.
It is widely accepted in State official circles that the imposition of President’s Rule in Punjab and a free hand to Mr. Ribeiro has failed to check the violence in the State. Contrary to this, it is argued that the gruesome policy of killing the innocent Sikh youth in fake encounters have alienated the Sikh masses from the process of conciliation. The large scale and open staging of fake encounters by the paramilitary forces have fully convinced the people, even outside Punjab about the allegations of State terrorism, being practiced against the Sikhs. They feel that counter actions of the militants are fully justified in the face of State terrorism of State police Chief Mr. Ribeiro.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 7, 1987
