CHANDIGARH, India: B.S.F and C.R.P.F pickets (chowkies) near Gidar pindi and Kabirpur villages were attacked by Si freedom fighters in the late hours of August 29 night. According to BSF. sources, first attack took place a little after mid night near village Gidar pindi in Kapurthala district in which four BS.F. jawans were wounded:

The second attack took place only six kilometers from Gidarpindi shortly after the first attack. The target was CRP. picket outside a hospital near Kabir pur. It is believed that the second attack was also made by the same group who were four or five in number, ‘There is no report of any casualty in the second attack. Sources say that the C.R.P.F. chowki at Kabirpur was alerted.

The attack was made with 303 rifles as indicated by the empty shells recovered from both sides. This Mund area falls along river Beas and stretches to nearly 70 kilometers, Police suspect that the attacks were made by the group headed by S. Avtar Singh Brahma. Police suspicion is based on a handwritten pad of “Tat Khalsa Khalistan” found in Faridkot which is dated August 28.

‘These sources are convinced that the same group was responsible for the August 26 attack on a C:R.P.F. truck in which one jawan was seriously wounded. In this attack there was exchange of fire for about half an hour.

‘The headquarters of Avtar Singh Brahma’s Tat Khalsa group is considered to be in village Karmuval Sarhali police circle. This village is situated near river Beas and the group is supposed to have established an observation post there, The places attacked on Saturday night fall along the road that runs parallel to the river.

It may be recalled that the authorities had claimed after the July 18 Operation Mund that the area was Cleared off all freedom fighters.

In another attack on August 31, night, five police constables were wounded and the driver and the cleaner of the police minibus were killed. The wounded include one Assistant Sub Inspector and a Head Constable. They have been admitted to a hospital at Amritsar.

The police bus was ambushed by freedom fighters who escaped after exchange of fire which lasted for nearly 10 minutes.

Article extracted from this publication >>September 5, 1986