KPS Gill, the super cop who crushed militancy in Punjab, dies at 82

india

Updated: May 26, 2017 17:55 IST

‘Super cop’ KPS Gill, often credited with rooting out militancy in Punjab, died in a hospital in New Delhi on Friday. He was 82.

Gill breathed his last at 2:55pm at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

The former director general of police (DGP) of Punjab and Assam was hospitalised on May 18 under the care of Dr DS Rana, head of the department of nephrology.

“He was suffering from end stage kidney failure and significant ischemic heart disease. Gill had been recovering from peritonitis but died of a sudden cardiac arrest caused by cardiac arrhythmia,” Dr Rana said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled his demise, saying Gill will be remembered for his service to the nation in the fields of policing and security.

Gill retired as an Indian Police Services (IPS) in 1995 and was known as a ‘super cop’ for his work in Punjab.

An IPS officer, Gill was the chief of Punjab Police from 1988 to 1990 and then again from 1991 until his retirement from service in 1995.

He was conferred with Padma Shri in 1989 for his work in civil services.

Gill was also the president of the Institute for Conflict Management and the president of the Indian Hockey Federation (IHF).

He is credited with breaking the backbone of Khalistani terrorism in Punjab and finally eliminating it.

A major feather was added to his crown when he commanded ‘Operation Black Thunder’ in May 1988 to flush out militants hiding in the Golden Temple.

The operation was hugely successful as little damage was caused to the holiest shrine of Sikhs, compared to ‘Operation Blue Star’ in 1984 carried out by the Army.

In the Operation Black Thunder, around 67 Sikhs surrendered and 43 were killed.