People from all walks of life on Saturday paid homage to former Punjab DGP KPS Gill, credited with crushing terrorism in Punjab with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh exhort ing the people of the state to work for its peace and progress as a true tribute to former police officer
Capt Amarinder described him as a brave son of Punjab who fought terrorism by providing the much-needed leadership to state police. He hoped that young police officers will draw inspiration from him and emulate him.
“At the Bhog ceremony of ex-DGP KPS Gill ji, feeling sad at the passing of an era, we can never forget what he did for us in Punjab,” he later tweeted.
Remembering Gill’s contribution to the state, he recalled his first meeting with him in Assam where he was then SP Tezpur, and was determined to give a befitting reply to the Chinese army’s incursion into the sector. He said the man knew how to lead from the front, whatever the threat.
Gill was a leader who built the morale and awakened the state police as there was a sense of demoralisation in those days of terrorism, the CM said.
The Chief Minister said those who had not lived through the days of militancy, when more than 35,000 people were killed, could not really understand his contribution to the state.
He also recalled how Gill launched operation night dominance to restore the confidence of the people and things started changing thereafter.
Punjab DGP Suresh Arora said the way Gill led the police force during the days of terrorism made him a “messiah” in their eyes. He recalled first meeting Gill, who was an IG then, while he was as ASP.
“He led us during days of terrorism. For Punjab Police, he never retired. I used to consult him even after his retirement. The real tribute to him would be to let us maintain peace and tranquility in the state, for which he strived. And we are working towards it,” Arora said.
Former Punjab Minister and BJP leader laxmi Kanta Chawla described Gill as “Punjab ka Jarnail (General), a protector of Punjab and who slayed terrorism”. She said his value is known to those who have suffered at the hands of terrorism. She said he was not given a free hand in Naxal-affected Chhattisgarh, where he was appointed as security adviser post retirement.