Many arrests in Punjab

Press, 14 May 1987, Page 10

Many arrests in Punjab

By

ROBERT MAHONEY

of Reuters NZPA New Delhi Security forces in Punjab arrested more than 100 militant Sikhs including a former state Cabinet Minister after the imposition of direct rule from New Delhi on the north Indian state. Police, freed from the control of the state’s ousted moderate Sikh Government, arrested political and student leaders known to have links with extremists, security officials in the capital Chandigarh told Reuters. Most notable was the arrest of a former Minister who had criticised the Punjab police chief, Julio Ribeiro.

Prem Singh Chandumajra, Co-operation Minister in the Akali Dal Government of the dismissed Chief Minister, Surjit Singh Barnala, was taken from his home yesterday morning. Police said he was expected to be charged with making provocative statements liable to cause a breach of the peace.

Police said the crackdown would continue for two or three days. The central Govern-

ment of Rajiv Gandhi put Punjab under its direct control on Monday and sacked Barnala, accusing his Government of being soft on extremists fighting for an independent Sikh homeland.

More than 1000 people have been killed in the Sikh-majority state since Barnala came to power in September, 1985, elections. Most of those arrested belonged to Akali Dal party factions and the militant All-India Sikh Students Federation. The students have been leading a “purity” campaign against smoking, drinking and hair-cutting — all banned by the Sikh faith.

They .have killed several liquor store owners and burned hundreds of liquor, tobacco and barber’s shops this year. Security sources said at least two other Ministers in Barnala’s cabinet feared arrest for their links with extremists and criticism of Ribeiro. Mr Ribeiro, a Catholic from Goa, who survived an extremist assassination attempt last year, had complained of being forced to fight with one hand tied behind his back because of state government interference.