KPS Gill — the ‘Supercop’, who led Operation Black Thunder II, is no more

Mangalore Today News Network

Chandigarh, May 26, 2017 : With the passing away of KPS Gill, it is difficult to avoid using the cliche, ‘An era has ended’. KPS Gill never did fade away from Punjab after retirement as the state’s Director General of Police (DGP). The man, who’s name is synonymous with winning the fight against militancy in the state and who earned the sobriquet of ‘Supercop’, continued to earn his share of bouquets and brickbats well after shedding his police uniform.

 

 

An IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre of the 1958 batch, Gill was no stranger to controversy in his parent cadre as well. He faced a court case after a protester died after he was administered a few kicks by Gill, then the DGP of Assam. However, it was in Punjab, during his two tenures as the state DGP, 1988-90 and 1991-95, that Gill etched his name firmly as among those leading from the front in the fight against Khalistani militancy in the state.

The May 1988 Operation Black Thunder II in Amritsar was where Gill earned his first flush of fame in Punjab when he flushed out militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar by avoiding repeat of Operation Blue Star and the use of brute force. Determined not to repeat the mistakes of June 1984, Gill laid a siege to the Golden Temple, positioned snipers on surrounding rooftops and literally starved out the militants by cutting away their electricity supply and refusing them even a drop of water from the Temple’s ‘sarovar’. The snipers would pick their targets as they came to have a drink of water and soon the morale of the militants sapped and they surrendered.
KPS Gill, had long been accused of having turned a blind eye to the wanton killings which took place in the name of fighting the militants. Express Archive Photo

While KPS Gill is credited with giving a firm direction to the fight against militants, one of his his biggest achievements in those dark days was to give a spine to the crumbling morale of the Punjab Police personnel. The militants had begun targetting the families of police personnel and killing them in specific attacks, thus reducing the will to fight among the cops. Not only did he take resolute action in imposing retribution for the attack of cops’ families, but he also ensured that he was seen to be present at all high profile encounters taking place in the state and thus boosting the morale of the policemen under his command.

Gill’s methods of breaking the back of militancy, however, were not without criticism. He had long been accused of having turned a blind eye to the wanton killings which took place in the name of fighting the militants, the staged encounters, the mysterious disappearances and the formation of squads of Police ‘Cats’ or informers who identified potential targets. Gill was never held personally accountable for the lapses on part of the officers under his command even though many police officials of that period later faced trials for their acts.


With the passing away of KPS Gill, it is difficult to avoid using the cliche, ‘An era has ended’.

KPS Gill never did fade away from Punjab after retirement as the state’s Director General of Police (DGP). The man, who’s name is synonymous with winning the fight against militancy in the state and who earned the sobriquet of ‘Supercop’, continued to earn his share of bouquets and brickbats well after shedding his police uniform.

An IPS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre of the 1958 batch, Gill was no stranger to controversy in his parent cadre as well. He faced a court case after a protester died after he was administered a few kicks by Gill, then the DGP of Assam. However, it was in Punjab, during his two tenures as the state DGP, 1988-90 and 1991-95, that Gill etched his name firmly as among those leading from the front in the fight against Khalistani militancy in the state.

The May 1988 Operation Black Thunder II in Amritsar was where Gill earned his first flush of fame in Punjab when he flushed out militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar by avoiding repeat of Operation Blue Star and the use of brute force. Determined not to repeat the mistakes of June 1984, Gill laid a siege to the Golden Temple, positioned snipers on surrounding rooftops and literally starved out the militants by cutting away their electricity supply and refusing them even a drop of water from the Temple’s ‘sarovar’. The snipers would pick their targets as they came to have a drink of water and soon the morale of the militants sapped and they surrendered.
KPS Gill, had long been accused of having turned a blind eye to the wanton killings which took place in the name of fighting the militants. Express Archive Photo

While KPS Gill is credited with giving a firm direction to the fight against militants, one of his his biggest achievements in those dark days was to give a spine to the crumbling morale of the Punjab Police personnel. The militants had begun targetting the families of police personnel and killing them in specific attacks, thus reducing the will to fight among the cops. Not only did he take resolute action in imposing retribution for the attack of cops’ families, but he also ensured that he was seen to be present at all high profile encounters taking place in the state and thus boosting the morale of the policemen under his command.

Gill’s methods of breaking the back of militancy, however, were not without criticism. He had long been accused of having turned a blind eye to the wanton killings which took place in the name of fighting the militants, the staged encounters, the mysterious disappearances and the formation of squads of Police ‘Cats’ or informers who identified potential targets. Gill was never held personally accountable for the lapses on part of the officers under his command even though many police officials of that period later faced trials for their acts.

Courtesy:IndianExpress