AMRITSAR: Militants who surrendered arms three years ago to join the mainstream are finding out life is no bed of roses.

A number of them came together at a police public interaction at Turkish village near here last week and complained that the Government had not kept its promises such as providing them employment.

Gurmukh Singh, who once belonged to the Dashmesh Regiment of Khalistan and surrendered before Punjab Police Chief K.P.S. Gill is frustrated with way things have developed. Satwant, who was associated with the Babbar Khalsa outfit, says he applied for a mini bus route permit but this case never came up for consideration before the transport screening committee.

“Though Lam frustrated with life but I have never thought of rejoining the militant ranks,” he said.

However, in a lighter vein he adds, “I had no money problem when I was with the militants but now my pockets remain empty.”

Harbhajan Singh and Balkar Singh, who once owed allegiance to the Khalistan Armed Force and surrendered in 1992, say they have been ‘unsuccessfully trying to get loans from banks but none of them was willing to help because of their past record, Like Satwant, Balkar also claims he had always managed to send enough money to his family while he was active as a militant but now he works hard in the fieldstone support his family.

Harbhajan Singh has taken up the job of a truck driver after his efforts to secure a mini bus route permit failed.

Dyal Singh, a Pakistan trained militant who was an explosive expert of the Babbar Khalsa says that while the Government has formulated many schemes to rehabilitate the Jodhpur detainees, nothing worthwhile has been done to improve the lot of the surrendered militants.

Senior police officers of the Border Range when contacted said the Government must shortly come up with a scheme to rehabilitate the surrendered militants if they were to be prevented from going astray again.

“If by chance at any time there is a relapse of militancy, frustrated young boys like Satwant can very well rejoin the militant ranks,” they said adding that so far none of the surrendered militants from the border districts of ‘Amritsar and Gurdaspur had taken to arms again,

However, almost all of them present at the police public meeting had a ‘word of praise for police for allowing them to sit at home peacefully and not harassing them.

They also appreciated the role of their respective village panchayats in accepting them.

Article extracted from this publication >>  August 4, 1995