Is terrorism knocking doors of Punjab?
Today one of my young journalist friends, Anilesh Mahajan;
whom despite our huge age difference (lest any controversy arises, I must
clarify that he is younger and I am older), I respect and admire because of his
great journalistic insights and acumen; posted an update on Facebook, posing a
question;
"Punjab RSS's number 2 Brig Jagdish Gagneja breathed
last at DMC&H, Ludhiana. He was shot at on August 6 in Jalandhar. Police is
still clueless. Is terrorism knocking doors of Punjab?"
Before I move further, I must state that I had met Brigadier
(Retd) Jagdish Gagneja, twice in my life time. Both meetings were held in his
Jalandhar office which is located in some commercial building between Radisson
hotel and the Clock Tower. I must apologize that despite my posting in
Jalandhar for about less than one year, I hardly know the city. I know some
locations but not exact addresses thereof.
I had met him in connection with my anti-drug campaign. I had
been trying to seek the help and support of various political parties, front
organisations thereof included; various politico - social - religious
organisations, religious and dera heads, NGOs, youth organisations etc. I had succeeded in meeting some top leaders
of Congress, BJP & left wing parties. Sadly, SAD and AAP leadership had
either flatly refused to meet or just let the request go unheard. Even those
who met indulged only in 'bandal-baji', slang for 'gas bags'. Some so called
radical Sikh parties & organisations, a number of NGOs and youth organisations
appeared to be sincerely concerned and did organise some campaigns. I also
found 'radical Sikhs’ to be genuinely concerned and worried on the issue of
drug menace.
Brigadier Gagneja had turned out to be a simple and straight
forward man, despite the heavy weight of the brass that he wore on his
shoulders while in service. I found him to be a down to earth and sincere man.
I had barged into his office around lunchtime. He was eating his home cooked
lunch out of his lunch box. He asked me to join in. On my polite refusal, he
got up from in-between the lunch, washed his hands, gave me a glass of water
and resumed his lunch after asking for a cup of tea for me. Our discussion
hovered around the drug menace, total failure of law and order and civic
administration in Punjab, corruption and criminalization of state politics etc.
Offering his total support for the anti-drug drive, he promised to take up the
matter with his organisation as well because drugs are being done all over the
country, only the scale there of varies. Second meeting with him was more
general in nature. He insisted on seeing me off till my car which was parked at
a distance because of non-availability of parking space nearby. The attack on
him had come as a shock. I had an instant liking for this gentleman.
Now coming to the point raised by Anilesh, my comment on his
post was,
"No. It is only criminal - politician nexus which is
operating and thriving in Punjab..."
Punjab is different from other states. Most foreign
invasions into the country were from this route. Punjabis always had to face
the first brunt thereof. It only helped in turning Punjabis into a martial
race. In any martial race, fascination for arms is but natural and this is one
of the reasons why we Punjabis love to possess arms. Thus, the so-called 'gun
culture' is but a natural corollary. This 'arm culture' has been exploited by
various rulers from time to time. Punjabi 'missels' were the very cause of the
successful conquests of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, the greatest of Sikh rulers
ever. Britain's success at several places during the First and the Second World
Wars was also only because of Punjabi troops.
The same Punjabi chivalry has been and is being exploited by
modern day rulers in Punjab. Almost all political parties have enrolled their
goons who are ever ready to quench their thirst for blood, money, good life and
as usual, the sex. They indulge in all this under the patronage of their
political godfathers who can't do without them. Goons are needed to grab property,
be it private, state owned or natural resources. During elections they are used
for intimidating voters. They are also the 'private army' which secures 'drug
line' and ensures that drugs are not pilfered by couriers. These goons
hibernate under political patronage almost across the spectrum but one
particular party owns and controls the majority.
Over past few years these criminal gangs, with the
connivance of their political lords, become more daring and aggressive. Their
areas of operation have increased and they are working in league of similar
politico-gangsters of other states. Their cooperation is on account of various
reasons including; interstate availability of ‘unknown’ sharp shooters,
transaction of latest weaponry and most important of all, ready-made
availability of interstate shelter and creation of alibis.
Police forces are either silent spectators to it all because
of political reasons or because the 'wiser' amongst them, are willful partners
of thereof.
Ironically gangsters and criminalized / politicized police
forces are an integral part of the kind of political system that we have in
this country and shall remain so.
This 'arm of state power' operates under the PPP (Politician-Police-Protection).
This was the one major protected group which had hijacked
law and order in Punjab even during the days of militancy and accusing fingers
were raised somewhere else.
This is the age of POLITICO-TERRORISM...
There is no question of revival of terrorism in Punjab…
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