Opinion 40 years ago December 1, 1985: Terrorists kill two policemen
This is the front page of The Indian Express published on December 1, 1985.
This is the front page of The Indian Express published on December 1, 1985. 
Suspected terrorists ambushed a police motorcycle and killed two police personnel in Ferozepur district. In another incident, Arjan Singh, a Nirankari of village Rampura in Ludhiana district, was shot at and seriously injured by two unidentified youths in the village. He was rushed to a hospital in Ludhiana where his condition was stated to be out of danger. Chief Minister Surjit Singh Barnala told UNI in Chandigarh that, according to details received at the state headquarters, the police officials who were on patrol duty were taken unawares. The assailants had positioned themselves in advance for the ambush after hearing the sound of the motorcycle’s engine.
Rajiv Gandhi invites Zia
The Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi, disclosed that he had invited the President of Pakistan, Gen Zia-ul-Haq, to be present at the inauguration of India’s fast-breeder reactor at Kalpakkam near Madras on December 16. Asserting that India has no intention of developing a nuclear weapon, Gandhi said Gen Zia could see for himself that the whole nuclear programme was peaceful.
Clashes in Bombay
At least 50 persons were reported to have been injured, some seriously, in a clash between the police and pavement stall owners, whose unauthorised structures were being demolished at Null Bazar in south Bombay. The police opened fire thrice — 16 rounds in all — to disperse the stone-throwing mob. The injured included police personnel and the head of the demolition squad of the Bombay Municipal Corporation, G R Khairnar.
India relents on trade talks
India, hitherto reluctant, is now not opposed to negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade, according to the Netherlands Minister for Foreign Trade. “India is not opposed to the new international trade negotiations. We need participation from the developing countries. If they are sidelined, the talks would remain a mere dialogue between the rich,” he said.
Share
