M A I N   N E W S

Punjab to take no chances
By Gobind Thukral
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Aug 12 — The escalated violence in the Kashmir valley has made security officers in Punjab sit up. Three bomb blasts in March, June and July this year claimed 16 innocent lives and injured 33 others. This only shows that all is not well in Punjab, senior police officers here admit.

These incidents are linked to the militant activity in Jammu and Kashmir. There are elements outside the country which are trying to create trouble in Punjab. Even during the first few months of the Badal Government there were bomb blasts which claimed more than 30 lives, officers argue. On March 3, this year, a powerful bomb ripped through a private bus near Tarkhan Majra village near Sirhind claiming nine lives. Later on June 28, near Lama Pind in Jalandhar, a bomb blast caused death of two persons. The bomb was meant for more casualties in a cultural programme going on nearby. On July 24, seven passengers of a private bus bound for Pathankot from Jalandhar lost their lives in a blast.

“The Director-General of Police, Mr Sarabjit Singh, held a meeting of the senior officers from the field yesterday evening here and apprised the district police chiefs of the critical situation developing in the region. “Intelligence input also showed that militants across the border are once again trying to foment trouble”, a senior officer said. The assessment by the intelligence chief, Mr M.P.S. Aulukh, also supported this view. He said, “we are on alert and our operations are going on. We are taking no chances and there is full cooperation among the northern states”.

According to intelligence sources in the Punjab Police and other agencies, the inter services intelligence (ISI) of Pakistan is very active these days. Remnants of the Punjab militants now in Pakistan, West Germany, Canada, United Kingdom and the USA are keeping on their efforts.

The police here said, “Neeta of the Khalistan Zindabad Force (KZF) was involved in the first incident. Ranjit Neeta and his associates Manjit, Parshotam Kala and others had organised the blasts. Neeta after his arrival in November last year struck not only in Punjab but also in Himachal, Jammu and Delhi. ‘‘The blasts in a running bus near Sirhind on March 2, the Pooja Express, Sealdah Express and in a hotel at Paharganj in New Delhi were the handiwork of this group. Neeta is learnt to be reorganising his gang.’’

Challenges to peace in the state emanate not only from Punjabi militants but also from various ISI-controlled modules: pan Islamic groups, mercenaries and fundamentalists. Incentives per blast now range from Rs 50,000 to Rs 2 lakh. Fake currency is given as extra incentive to mercenary groups. Punjabi speaking Muslim boys of Pakistan have been trained to act as long term agents-cum-operators in Punjab — adding a new challenge to the security apparatus.

The police last fortnight recovered arms and ammunition from three Muslim mercenaries. The recent arrest of a three-member module at Rattan Chatter village where two of their associates belonging to the HUJI were killed on July 28. There are indications that the ISI is not only depending upon Punjabi militants for spreading terror and panic in the state, but also activating Muslim fundamentalists, mercenaries, Pakistani spies to cause trouble in the state. Over 20 Pakistani spies have been arrested during the past one year in Punjab. Many of these mercenaries had been given Hindu or Sikh identities.

The recovery of weapons (AKs-eight, revolvers/pistols-eight, hand grenades-15), explosives (RDX/PETN-41 kgs), fake currency (about Rs 76 lakh) and narcotics (heroin-64 kgs) this year indicates that the ISI is still hopeful of reviving militancy in Punjab.

Realising that the local recruits are not available, terrorist leaders in Pakistan are exploring various alternatives, including mercenaries, terrorists released from jails, Sindhi and Afghani Sikhs, and youth associated with religious institutions, foreign-based Sikh boys.

Though local support and hideouts are not available, the ISI is hopeful of kicking up trouble on the Punjab border taking advantage of the reduced strength of BSF personnel along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab. After using Fazilka and Ferozepore sectors for quite sometime, the ISI, of late, is concentrating on Ajnala, Dera Baba Nanak and Ramdas sectors, mostly the riverine route.

Three tunnels were detected in this sector recently. Apart from strengthening policing in border districts, the Punjab Police has launched special campaign to identify and nab smugglers and couriers active in border villages. Intelligence machinery has also been activated in these areas, officers claimed.

But the Punjab Police faces major problems. One, the border in certain pockets is becoming porous. Second, political bosses are of little help. Last year, not a paisa was given for intelligence gathering and for counter intelligence operations. Some districts are managed by the favourites of politicians who are either corrupt or have little knowledge of counter militancy operations.

There is also too much of interference by political masters in the postings of senior officers. ‘‘Mr Parkash Singh Badal may be an honest guy and well meaning too, but down the line it is corruption and lethargy. Kidnappings tell their own tale’’, a senior officer here commented. Those who made useful contribution during the heydays of militancy have been sidelined, is another charge.

Militant groups having potential to strike in Punjab are the ISYF-Rode, Babbar Khalsa, KCF-Panjwar and residual elements associated with the KLF. New splinters like the Kama Ghata Maru Dal are also trying to register their presence besides the KZF which is a cause of concern not only for Punjab but for several other states. Neeta in fact has assumed the character of full-fledged ISI-controlled mercenary.

The ISI ventures from Sakkargarh and Sialkot have implications for Punjab. Besides Punjab militants, Muslim fundamentalist associates of the Lashkar-e- Toiba, HUJI, Al-Badr, Islamic Front also pose a challenge to the state police.