Punjab ‘terrorist affected’

Press, 25 July 1984, Page 10

Punjab ‘terrorist affected’

NZPA-Reuter New Delhi The Indian Government has declared the troubled northern state of Punjab a “terrorist-affected area” and Opposition politicians have boycotted Parliament in protest against Government policies. A Government statement on Monday said that the declaration would stand for six months, and that three special courts had been set up for closed trials of suspected extremists. A Presidential ordinance on July 14 gave Indira Gandhi’s Government powers to set up such courts to try crimes that include waging war against the State, abetting mutiny, promoting class enmity, murder, hijacking, and sabotage. About 5000 suspected extremists have been detained by security forces since the Army cracked down in early June on Sikhs waging a violent campaign for political and religious conces-

sions. About 3000 have been released after questioning. Politicians from 17 Opposition parties left the Lower House of the National Parliament on Monday in protest against the Government’s handling of crises in Punjab and the neighbouring, mostly Muslim state of Jammu and Kashmir. The Opposition leaders issued statements condemning the dismissal of the Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister, Farouk Abdullah, who was ousted three weeks ago when 12 of his supporters in the State Assembly deserted him and formed a new Government with the backing of Mrs Gandhi’s Congress (I) Party. The leaders said that his dismissal was unconstitutional and undemocratic. The Opposition protest came at the start of a fiveweek monsoon session of Parliament, possibly the last before a General Election, which must be held by January.