Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday exhorted the people of Punjab to work for peace and progress, and emulate the qualities of former DGP KPS Gill, as a true tribute to the great man.Remembering Gill as a leader who will continue to shine through the sands of time, the Chief Minister said in the death of the former DGP he had personally lost a friend.Speaking at the Bhog ceremony of Gill, who died on May 26 at the age of 82, the Chief Minister prayed for his soul, and for all those who had laid their lives for Punjab’s peace. The nation has lost a great man, who contributed to peace in Punjab and in the country, thus enabling their progress and development in an environment free from terror, said Captain Amarinder.It happens in several generations that you come across a man who leaves a mark the way Gill did, said the Chief Minister, who remembered meeting Gill for the first time for his book on the 1962 war. Gill was then SP Tejpur, and determined to give a befitting reply to the Chinese army’s incursion into the sector, recalled Captain Amarinder, adding that the man knew how to lead from the front, whatever the threat.
Remembering Gill’s contribution to fighting terror in Punjab, the Chief Minister said those who had not lived through those darks days, when more than 35,000 people were killed, could not really understand his contribution to the state. When he took over the reins of the Punjab police, it was a force of shattered men, who would shut down the police stations after sunset for fear of the terrorists, Captain Amarinder observed, adding that Punjab had then needed a strong leader, which Gill had proved to be.“I recall a time a time when, travelling from Gurdaspur with Ravi Inder Singh, I stopped to meet a DC. They did not open the door, and we then talked to him on phone that was handed over through the closed door. He said he does not meet anyone after dark,” Captain Amarinder recalled the horror of those days and nights, through which Gill shone as a beacon.
Gill launched night dominance operation to restore the confidence of the people and things started changing, the Chief Minister pointed out, adding that the morale of the police was boosted by his strong actions, enabling them to fight and win the war against terror.Punjab DGP Suresh Arora said the way he led the police force during the days of terrorism made him a messiah in their eyes. He recalled first meeting Gill when he himself was ASP and the latter was IG. So strong was Gill’s connect with Punjab police that he never effectively retired, said Arora, adding “I used to consult him even after his retirement.” The real tribute to Gill would be to maintain peace and tranquility in Punjab and live up to his expectations, Arora added.Former Amritsar MLA Laxmi Kanta Chawla of the BJP described Gill as the protector of Punjab and the destroyer of militancy, saying his work for Punjab is well recognized by those who had suffered at the hands of terrorism, and those who love the state and support peace.