APRIL 17, 1984, FORTY YEARS AGO

150 ACTIVISTS ARRESTED

FOUR PERSONS, INCLUDING the alleged killer of Surinder Singh Sodhi, a prominent follower of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and two suspected conspirators in the case were killed during the last 24 hours while the police rounded up more than 150 activists of the outlawed All-india Sikh Students Federation in a state-wide crackdown launched after the burning of railway stations.

PROTEST AGAINST PAK

INDIA LODGED A strong protest against the Pakistan government’s decision to appoint three members to the Majlis-e-shoora (federal council) from the so-called northern areas which were “an integral part of the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.” The Indian Embassy said the decision was yet another step to unilaterally alter the situation in violation of the Simla agreement.

INTELLIGENCE REVAMP

THERE IS A complete breakdown of the intelligence system in Punjab and PM Indira Gandhi is reported to have taken serious note of it. Some Intelligence Bureau experts will be sent to Punjab to help the state government in this venture. The simultaneous burning of 37 railway stations in Punjab by members of the outlawed All-india Sikh Students Federation has proved that the terrorists have an organised communication system.

CONGRESS (I) CRITICISED

THE CONVENTION OF 17 opposition parties, excluding the BJP and the Lok Dal, is likely to reiterate the participants’ resolve to fight all forces of separatism and destabilisation. The draft declaration criticises the ruling Congress (I), “whose leaders shout from the house-tops that they stand for national unity and integration but have no sense of shame in using the forces of separatism and destabilisation”.