Gunman Who Shot at Gandhi Sikh, Police Say

The lone gunman who tried to kill Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on Thursday with a homemade gun was a Sikh from violence-torn Punjab state, police intelligence sources said today.

Gandhi has been threatened by Sikh separatist groups, but police said just after the assassination attempt that the gunman was not a Sikh. He was identified in court papers today, however, as Karamjit Singh of Punjab state.

Nearly all Sikh men use Singh, meaning lion, as part of their name. Sikh extremists have been waging a terror campaign to establish a Sikh nation in Punjab, the only Indian state where Sikhs outnumber Hindus.

Police sources and news reports said Singh spent about two weeks hiding in the garden where the attack on Gandhi occurred. Officials said they were investigating whether he was connected with a Sikh terrorist group.

Held Without Charge

A New Delhi magistrate ordered Singh held for 21 days for further investigation before charges are filed.

The Home Ministry said the gunman gave several names during questioning Thursday. Police then described him as in his 20s and said questioning revealed no ties to any terrorist groups.

The gunman, wearing an army uniform, fired a homemade pistol at Gandhi and President Zail Singh, a Sikh, as they left a ceremony commemorating the birthday of assassinated independence leader Mohandas Gandhi. (Story on Page 9.)

Meanwhile today, Sikh gunmen tried to kill Punjab’s police chief in Jallundar. The chief was only grazed and called it “part of the game” in the fight against terrorism.

Police said a paramilitary trooper was killed and four security men were wounded in the attack by seven Sikhs, who got into Jallundar police compound disguised as officers, fired up to 40 rounds from automatic weapons and fled.

Chief’s Wife Injured

Chief Julius F. Ribeiro, known as India’s “super cop” of anti-terrorism, was walking with his wife, Melba, when attacked. She was hospitalized with a leg wound, but Ribeiro said she was recovering.

“I am all right,” said Ribeiro, 57, who was grazed on the arm.

“This is part of the game,” he said at a news conference. “We will continue to fight terrorism with the same vigor.”