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Opinion August 19, 1985, Forty Years Ago: Border Tension

This is the front page of The Indian Express published on August 19, 1985.

August 19, 2025 07:02 AM IST First published on: Aug 19, 2025 at 07:02 AM IST

Tension prevailed on the border following unprovoked intermittent firing by Pakistani troops at two places in the Poonch sector since August 15. According to official reports received here, the firing by Pakistani troops continued intermittently at Lafgoorhills and the Bagyaidar area, the border township of Poonch. The reports said the trouble erupted when Indian security forces objected to Pakistan’s encroachment into the “no man’s land” where they were constructing trenches.

Clash in Munirka

The police fired 21 teargas shells, resorted to a lathi charge and fired five rounds in the air to disperse a brickbatting mob protesting against the demolition of unauthorised structures in Munirka village and Budh Vihar in South Delhi. Several people, including policemen, DDA employees and shopkeepers, were injured in the lathi charge and brickbatting. Twelve persons have been arrested.

Thimphu Talks

The Thimphu talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil groups, which were seriously threatened on August 17 following the alleged massacre of 200 Tamils in Sri Lanka, are expected to resume on August 19. According to information received from the Bhutanese capital, the talks were salvaged through India’s efforts. The Tamil groups, which had threatened to return to Colombo, have reportedly decided now to stay on in Thimphu.

Punjab Polls

The tantalising suspense is over. But the decision to hold an election in Punjab on September 22 for the 117 assembly and 13 Lok Sabha seats could not have been an easy one. Only a few days earlier, Akali Dal (L) president Harchand Singh Longowal, one of the principal architects of the momentous July 24 accord, had declared that he favoured an election in February or March 1986. His statement must have caused ripples of tension at the Centre.