M A I N   N E W S

Shaurya Chakra winners to return awards
Protest against withdrawal of security
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Bhikhiwind, February 8
The ‘Sandhu family, which had created history by receiving four Shaurya Chakra awards for fighting against militants in the early nineties, has decided to return country’s most prestigious gallantry awards in protest against the withdrawal of security. The recipients of Shaurya Chakra included two women, who faced at least 40 attacks during the militancy period.

The Sandhus, who live on the outskirts of this village, are just seven miles away from the Pakistan border. They told The Tribune today that they were still receiving threatening calls from Paramjit Singh Panjwar, a self-styled chief of the Khalistan Commando Force, whose name also figured among the 20 most wanted Indians who have taken shelter in Pakistan. The recipients of Shaurya Chakra winners include: Balwinder Singh Sandhu, his wife Jagdish Kaur, brother Ranjit Singh and his wife. They are called ‘Zinda Shaheed’ in the area.

Another Shaurya Chakra winner, Bibi Amrik Kaur , a resident of Amarkot, also fought against militants though she paid a heavy price for that .Her husband was killed along with his servant while countering terrorist attack on their house . She has also decided to return the award due to alleged indifferent attitude of the state government. Though she had filed a petition in the Punjab and Haryana High court yet she was not given adequate security so far. ‘At one time, the police had given us light machine guns, carbines, AK-47 and even wireless sets. But with the end militancy, they seem to have forgotten them, she added.

Mr Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a senior CPI leader, alleged that the family had a security cover of 10 policemen. Of them eight had been withdrawn on pretext of Independence Day last year and they have not returned despite a number of reminders. He said the state government would be held responsible if any harm was caused to the family.

Recalling the old days, Mr Sandhu said senior leaders of all militant outfits, including Panjwar, used to attack the family with rocket launchers and hand grenades. Though they would inform the police every time yet nobody used to come forward to help them. He said his son Gagandeep Singh, who was two-year-old at that time, was also with them when terrorists would launch joint attacks on their house.

He said all family members would gherao the Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, while campaigning during the Ajnala byelection if security was not restored within a week.

Bibi Amrik Kaur alleged that she along with her son was booked in connection with a 14-year-old murder, though no FIR was lodged against them. She alleged that some influential persons were hatching a conspiracy to tarnish her image as she had been supporting Baba Ajit Singh Poohla, a controversial Nihang chief. She claimed that Baba Poohla too had fought fight against terrorists when nobody would dare to confront with them. She has only three security personnel at present.

Mr Buta Ram, another Shaurya Chakra winner, has only one security person with him.