CHANDIGARH: The censorship on the Press in Punjab imposed by militants during the peak of militancy proved counterproductive for them and conversely helpful to the security forces in restoring normalcy.
This observation was made by Punjab Director General of Police K.P.S Gill at a meet-the-press program organized by the Chandigarh Press Club here on Feb.4.
Paying a left-handed compliment to the Press Gill said that censorship by the militants had cut out the feedback to them from the rural areas. The villagers who were aware of the ground reality did not lend credence to press statements issued by militants and gradually lost faith.
He did not give credit to the Army for the restoration of normalcy and said the job was mainly handled by the police and the paramilitary forces. He said Army’s main role was during the February1992 elections. The level of violence remained the same even after Army deployment. As terrorism spread to the urban areas after the elections Amy people made it clear that they were not trained to handle this situation. Gill said the Press in Punjab under threats from militants stopped carrying reports of rapes extortions and other such crimes and they themselves were not aware as to what was being done by their colors is not her areas. When some big leaders were eliminated people started speaking out. He described it as a pressure cooker effect. This helped the police in Climinating militants.
He referred to the Press censorship by the government during the Emergency and pointed out that it had also led to negative results for the then government.
He said publicity always works as an accelerator for terronsm and there had been inconclusive debates whether the press should be allowed to publish news items advocating violence. Even in Punjab some people had ADVO advocated Censorship? The reports of bhog ceremonies carried by the Press rather proved a boon for the Police in identifying those killed in areas away from their homes. Answering questions about the increasing police excess with specific reference 10 the cases of tattoo and Tapes he said he had ordered enquiry in both the cases and would have taken action on the basis of the inquiry reports He said in the allow case some senior officers had suggested to him that he should Suspend the concemed police official and later reinstate him However this was not acceptable to him as if anyone was guilty he had no Tight to be in the force He said in the tatoo case he had accepted the echquiry by an officer of the rank of Inspector General of Police.
AS to the Amnesty reports about disappearances he said according for his intelligence reports about 500 persons from the region had gone to Western Countries on the basis of fake documents.
He maintained he believed in nonviolence but said when violence is thrust upon us we have no option.
Replying to a question whether the present situation in Punjab could be interpreted as absence of violence or return of peace he said violence had always been a strong clement in Punjab but the effort would be to see that the year 1994 had the lowest crime rate He said out of 73 murder cases registered last year 61 related to ordinary crime
He said he had no intentions to join politics after retirement. He denied he ever managed the press and said the press here is cooperative
Article extracted from this publication >> February 11, 1994
