Punjab CM refuses CBI inquiry into fake deaths

Chandigarh, Feb 24 (UNI) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh today rejected the demand of the opposition Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and its ally, the BJP, for a CBI inquiry into the ''fake deaths'' of the terrorists rehabilitated by the Punjab police.

Justifying the fake deaths of certain terrorists ''who helped the police during the phase of terrorism in the state'', the Chief Minister said in the state assembly that there were 2145 ex-militants who had been rehabilitated in different periods.

Capt Singh, said this during the discussion on the ''volatile situation arising out of the possible dreadful outcomes of the rehabilitation of Sukhwinder Singh Sukhi, a terrorist of Khalistan Liberation Force, and such other 300 terrorists in the state by changing their names in connivance with the state government and the police chief''.

The discussion was carried under Rule 77 of the Vidhan Sabha proceedings, which was moved by the Leader of Opposition Parkash Singh Badal, who also demanded inquiry into the unidentified bodies which were used by the state to declare certain terrorists as dead during the phase of terrorism in the state.

But the Chief Minister said that any such initiative of ''scratching the-old wounds'' could be volatile and against the interests of the-people of Punjab who were now living in peace after more than a decade long bloodshed.

Defending Punjab Police DGP S S Virk for his statement that the police had to adopt unconventional and unconstitutional methods to save those terrorists who were helping the police, the Chief Minister said that several terrorists who wanted to shun violence and lead normal life were now being rehabilitated in Kashmir and in the northeast.

Rejecting the demand for an inquiry into the fake deaths and for declaring the identity of other persons like Sukhi, Capt Singh said he would be responsible ''as a chief minister of the state'' in case of any untoward violence at he hands of these rehabilitated terrorists, some of whom were saved by hiding their identities.

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