AMRITSAR: Contrary to the Governments claim of the freedom fighters being on the run, they seem to be getting bolder and bolder. They now move about freely not only at night, but also in day light, and that too, in the Presence of security forces. Smuggling of arms and border crossing, which were being undertaken with caution at night, are frequently dared in daylight in full public view. No one dares to complain or Report.

One of the many incidents which indicate the mood of the freedom fighters took place with none other than the senior most official of the district. The deputy commissioner, Sarabjit Singh, last week visited the vulnerable sites on the Sutlej river which had caused havoc during last year’s floods, and personally witnessed what has often been described as rumors,

Accompanied by the district flood committee members, the deputy commissioner began his tour from Hari ke on the banks of the Sutlej downstream. As the convoy of vehicles containing all the officials was a little short of the last vulnerable point of the Indian side on the river the team spotted three “babas” (a term used for freedom fighters) walking in the “barata (sandy island on the river course).

Initially there was panic as not many had actually seen a freedom fighter in real life. The three freedom fighters who had draped shawis around themselves obviously seemed to be carrying arms and were coming in from across the border as beyond that point was alien land.

On seeing the vehicles and the security personnel accompanying the “deputy commissioner” the three did not try to flee, but just sat down. According to some, they took up positions,

An accompanying superintendent of police from Tarn Taran, Dharam Singh, took a few men and advanced towards the freedom fighters in an attempt to scare them, but the officials of the Irrigation and Drainage Department present suggested they avoid any provocation as very often repair work was being carried out in these areas, and if the freedom fighters were harmed their accomplices would get even with these officials. The SP therefore, came back and the plan to go any further for inspection was also dropped.

All this while, the three freedom fighters were sitting on the banks, but the moment the vehicles reversed to leave, they got up and began to cross the river, seemingly in an haughty mood.

Security forces helpless

This not only indicates their boldness, but also the helplessness of the security forces in such cases where they have to let go, scot free, a freedom fighter moving about freely with the sole aim to protect the interest of those working in the freedom fighter infested areas.

According to some people living in the area close to Mand contrary to the claims of the government and the police that the Mand is now clear of freedom fighters, the freedom fighters move around freely. Not only this, they have demarcated areas beyond which no one is allowed to go.

The freedom fighters have also set up their own check points and persons who have to go beyond those points to work in their farms are frisked by them.

In yet another daredevil act freedom fighters for the first time challenged a CRPF party on the main Amritsar Jalandhar highway supposed to be one of the busiest in the country. The incident took place on Monday night when R.C. Sethi staff officer of the DIG CRPF, was returning to Jalandhar from Amritsar at 8:30 at night.

When the CRPF party was about a kilometere short of Khalchian (between Jandiala and Rayya) eight or nine freedom fighters wielding AD47 rifles, and two of them sitting on a tractor waited for the approaching police jeep. As the jeep neared them to a few metres, two freedom fighters drove the tractor and stopped it in the middle of the road, while the others blocked the rest of the road, pointing their rifles towards the jeep.

Miraculous Escape

The entire party had a miraculous escape when the driver of the jeep tried to drive through, but as he was doing so, the freedom fighters hit the tractor into the jeep causing both the vehicles to swing to the right of the road, the two freedom fighters sitting on the tractor, in order to avoid hitting. their own men, the freedom fighters did not open fire. This gave the CRPF party to quickly get off the jeep and take positions.

For nearly half an hour there was exchange of fire between the freedom fighters and the CRPF. It is only when another CRPF party, on its routine patrol, was seen approaching did the freedom fighters flee from the site. In the firing a jawan, Bikram Singh was injured, while the freedom fighters suffered no loss.

Had the jeep not turned and given the CRPF party a chance to get off and take their positions, the entire party would have been sitting ducks for the terrorists.

A similar attack was made on a BSF jeep last week near Chabhal in the Tarn Taran police district. The BSF Commandment doged a bullet, which killed his mother in law sitting in the back seat. Other members of the family were also injured in the ambush. It is the sheer confidence of the freedom fighter which is responsible for the increasing number of ambushes on the security forces.

Article extracted from this publication >>  July 14, 1989