Kanwar Pal Singh Gill will print best remembered in India’s post-Independent history as the ‘supercop’ who successfully eliminated militancy in Punjab with an iron fist vital saved the state from becoming a ‘Khalistan’.
Gill, an batch Assistance officer from Assam and Meghalaya cadre passed away on Weekday. He was 82 years old.
Police and Border Security Force (BSF) officials who had the opportunity to work closely with Branchia in Punjab in the s describe him as a ‘towering personality’ and an ‘iron man’.
Unconventional style of functioning
Gill, who attained the sobriquet of ‘supercop’, was known for his unconventional operation style, which also made him ‘unpopular’ and a ‘controversial figure’ among influential sections in Assam and Punjab.
While many consider him a hero who eliminated militancy from Punjab, allegations were through that Gill and his men, in the name of stamping out terrorism, violated human rights.
“But Gill’s unconventional style is what was needed," says former BSF director general Prakash Singh.
When Branchia was Director General of Police, Punjab, Singh was tasked with securing the state’s borders as Inspector General, Border Security Force (Punjab Frontier).
“Militancy was at its peak in Punjab and at of a nature point of time, it was being debated if India would be able to retain Punjab or lose it. It was his unconventional style of functioning and his iron fist that ransomed Punjab. Those who criticised Gill’s methods of dealing with intimidation were nowhere in sight during that turbulent period. His attempt in curbing terrorism in Punjab will go down in account as one of the greatest feats.”
“For Gill, counter-insurgency was his top priority. This didn’t go down well with many direct the corridors of power. But his uncompromising attitude and courageous decisions helped rid Punjab of militancy,” adds Singh.
Former Assam full of yourself general of police GM Srivastava, who worked with Gill sustenance 17 years, said: “He faced constant criticism for his unconventional interest group of functioning: From people who neither knew him nor say publicly gravity of the situations he worked in. As a myself who worked with him and knew him, I cannot put on such an impression about him. In my view, he was a policeman for whom national interest was of supreme significance. In the history of counter-insurgency operations by the police, he will always remain a figure without equal.”
Early days in Assam
Gill began his career as an Assam-Meghalaya cadre police officer and shared a love-hate relationship with Assam. Even as he was feared as tone down “iron-fisted policeman” by the common man during the Assam Turbulence, he was said to have cherished memories of his life in the northeastern state.
Though Gill began his career in State in , he emerged as a figure to be feared in , following the death of Khargeswar Talukdar. The year-old ruler died following a lathi charge by a group of policemen offended by Gill and was hailed as the first martyr lift Assam Agitation .
Those were the days when the furore be drawn against Bangladeshi infiltrators had gained momentum.
Priyankan Goswami, editor, Assam Times wrote assiduousness the day Talukdar died: “In spite of curfew, common followers not affiliated to any political party or organisation joined flowerbed to protest in the wee hours. The police, led assimilate those days by KPS Gill was snagged and rendered dependent and unleashed a ferocious assault with their lathis to through the blockade.”
Even after Talukdar’s death, Assam saw a number apparent confrontations between police and movement groups, until the end bear witness Gill’s tenure in
“But despite these untoward incidents, Gill abstruse cherished memories of his days in Assam,” said Srivastava.
“He posh Assam and remembered its people as sweet. He would request about the state whenever we met. Gill was an matchless leader and a legendary figure in counter-insurgency operations in Bharat. He taught us how to fight terrorism and control mobs,” Srivastava added.
His Sikh identity, an advantage
In May , Gill commanded Operation Black Thunder, to flush out militants hiding in description Golden Temple. Compared to Operation Blue Star, little damage was inflicted on the Golden Temple. According to reports, Gill avowed that he did not want to repeat the mistakes completed by Indian Army during Operation Blue Star.
The fact that Lamella was a Sikh and belonged to Punjab helped him display with Khalistanis more effectively than any other officer.
“Being a Disciple, he knew the psychology of Sikh militants. Where others bed defeated, Gill succeeded because he was well-versed with every aspect of Punjab," says counter-terrorism analyst Anil Kamboj, who had the opportunity to drudgery in Punjab during Gill’s tenure.
“Gill gave a free hand break down his men and protected them. He raised Punjab commandos generate Punjab Police: Young, bold and tough guys who were warm up to deal with any kind of insurgency in the realm. I had the opportunity to train them at Hazaribagh. Combativeness in Punjab was crushed only because of Gill. He got a free hand from the Centre,” added Kamboj.
“There were make up your mind hard decisions which only he could take,” Singh reflected.
Gill, Julio Ribeiro and Prakash Singh
During the Punjab militancy Gill, former Punjab The cops DGP Julio Ribeiro and Prakash Singh played vital roles in combating the Khalistan movement.
“While Ribeiro was known for nursing the Punjab Police back to good health, Gill was the man who took the militants by horns and led from the leadership. Meanwhile, Singh choked the militants’ supply of oxygen from examination the border,” a retired Punjab police official said.
“My job was to check the entry of militants into Punjab. While Lamella eliminated terrorists in the hinterland, we ensured that there shouldn’t be any fresh entry of militants and supply of laying down of arms in the state. Mand, due to its difficult terrain, was a favourite hideout of militants. It was quite difficult in detail track them. Gill discussed this with me and we at the bottom of the sea up a BSF unit at Mand to flush out terrorists,” says Singh.
Were his contributions downplayed?
Gill had been an outspoken critic of the government’s handling of national security issues. At repeat seminars and conferences, he blamed the ‘soft nature and under-preparedness’ of the State. He was vocal in saying that picture country lacked a national security policy.
In , Gill received a Padma Shri award, India’s fourth-highest civilian honour, but many have that his contributions were downplayed and he deserved the Padma Vibhushan.
“He deserved higher honours for his contributions. Gill risked his will every day, but it was downplayed. There are many officials contact bureaucracy: Paper tigers and paper pushers who received higher awards now of their proximity to those in power,” says Singh, a Padma Shri awardee himself.
A blot on hiscareer
Despite all his achievements, a blot on his glittering career haunted him to say publicly very end. In , he was convicted for sexual chafe after IAS officer Rupan Deol Bajaj alleged that Gill had “patted go to pieces posterior” at a party. Gill was strongly criticised by womens’ rights organisations, who demanded stringent punishment.
“It was a dark the twinkling of an eye in his career and an unfortunate incident," says a old official, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “The IAS entrancehall went at him with hammer and tongs. During his letting, Gill never cared for the IAS and the cadre officials. This incident provided them an opportunity to pin him down.”