M A I N   N E W S

Panjwar threat to Nihang family
From Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Sept 9 — It was June 23, 1990, when the family of the Sarpanch of Mallian village in this district waged the first civil battle against militants.

Though the Sarpanch, Makhan Singh, was killed in this encounter which lasted for more than three hours yet this act of bravery has gone down in history. The group of militants which killed the Sarpanch was led by Paramjit Singh Panjwar, chief of the Khalistan Commando Force (KCF), who is now in Pakistan. The family of the Sarpanch had chased the militants up to Timmowal village which is more than 3 km from Mallian.

Though normalcy has returned to the state yet this family which includes Nihang Singhs still apprehends Panjwar will take revenge for the humiliation he had faced on June 23, 1990.

Talking to TNS, Dilbag Singh, a Nihang and son of the deceased Makhan Singh said the family members still give duty on rotation round the clock to guard their house. He said their family had shifted to Shahabad in Haryana after receiving a number of threats by Panjwar that he would kill even their cattle.

Narrating the story of the encounter, Dilbag Singh said though the police had reached the site yet they did not come out of their Gypsies. “It was a battle when all our six brothers fought and forced Panjwar and his men to run away.”

Dilbag Singh had come to the Circuit House to meet Mr B.K. Srivastava Secretary, Relief and Settlement, to seek a job on priority basis. Ms Luxmi Kanta Chawla, BJP MLA was also there.

Dilbag Singh has been going from pillar to post to get a job but in vain. He said he got late for applying for the job as he had shifted to Haryana along with his family. Now the Punjab Government has given relaxation in the rules and he hopes that he would now get a job on compassionate grounds.

More than 100 terrorist victims who were denied jobs on one or the other pretext had assembled in the Circuit House. It was Mrs Luxmi Kanta Chawla and veteran CPI leader Satya Pal Dang who fought the cases of these victims.

Mr Srivastava said the terrorist victim could apply for jobs within six months. He said more than 1000 terrorist victims would be benefited as a result of relaxation in rules.