CHANDIGARH: Taking serious note of the alleged proximity of some Akalis to the militants, the Punjab government is understood to have decided to review the security cover provided to all such ‘Akali leaders and activist.
The decision was reached at a high-level law and order meeting chaired by the chief minister, Beant Singh. At the meeting, the situation arising out of the recent massacre of 15 senior engineers and management executives in Sangrur and the forthcoming bandh on March 16 came up for discussion.
Sources said that a few officers suggested that security provided to leaders of those Akali factions which boycotted the elections should be withdrawn. They alleged that not only were some of these ‘Akali leaders taking directions from militants, but they were also advocating their cause. “Against whom is the police protection being provided?”, the officers are learnt to have asked
I was pointed out that white ordinary villagers were being detained for allegedly harboring militants or making provocative speeches, senior Akali and AISSF leaders who have repeatedly been advocating the militants’ cause ‘were not only being allowed to go scot-free but were being provided government security. This was having a demoralizing effect on the police force, the officers are learnt to have pointed out.
‘Most senior Akali leaders, including the Akali Dal (B) presi dent, Prakash Singh Badal, the SGPC president, Gurcharan Singh ‘Tohra, and the AISSF (M) president, Manjit Singh all of whom had boycotted the recent elections have been provided heavy police security. Badal, in fact, has been provided security by even the Haryana police apart from the CCRPF, Punjab and the Chandigarh police forces.
‘The chief minister reiterated that the Akalis continued to pay lip service to the militants even after having been attacked by them.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 27, 1992
