Archive · 11 Sep 2026
Punjab Police Arrest 13, Vaidya Probe Advances, Leaders Released
On September 11, 1986, Punjab Police said they had arrested 13 suspected terrorists.
The suspects were allegedly part of a 20-person group linked to Avtar Singh Brahma.
Police connected the group to the deaths of four people in Punjab.
Meanwhile, investigators questioned two men arrested in the killing of Gen A S Vaidya.
The head of the Central Bureau of Investigation went to Pune to oversee that questioning.
A Delhi court released two Akali Dal leaders after a month in jail.
They had been detained for not following an order to leave Delhi.
Separately, an Indira Gandhi supporter said President Zail Singh faced pressure but still agreed to receive a memorandum.
Punjab Police claimed it arrested 13 of a 20-member gang allegedly led by Avtar Singh Brahma.
Police said the gang was responsible for killing four people at Chola Sahib in Sarhali on August 31.
CBI Director-General Mohan Katre traveled to Pune to supervise questioning of Sukhdeo Singh and Nirmal Singh in Gen A S Vaidya’s killing.
A court released Parkash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tohra after they spent a month in Tihar jail.
Prakash Mehrotra alleged pressure prevented President Zail Singh from meeting an ‘Indira Loyalists’ delegation, though the President accepted its memorandum.
- Who
- Punjab Police, the Central Bureau of Investigation, arrested suspects, Akali Dal leaders, President Zail Singh, and ‘Indira Loyalists’ representatives.
- What
- Police announced 13 arrests, investigators questioned two Vaidya-killing suspects, two political leaders were released, and a memorandum issue involving the President was reported.
- When
- September 11, 1986; the reported killing of four people occurred on August 31.
- Where
- Jalandhar, Chola Sahib in Sarhali and other parts of Punjab, Pune, Tihar jail in Delhi, and the President’s office.
- Why
- The arrests and questioning concerned alleged terrorism and killings; Badal and Tohra were detained for refusing to leave Delhi, while Mehrotra sought to submit a memorandum.
Officials’ account
Political representatives’ account
Gang arrests and killings
Officials’ account
Punjab Police claimed that 13 members of a 20-person gang linked to Avtar Singh Brahma had been arrested and that the gang was responsible for four killings.
Political representatives’ account
The article does not provide a response from the accused suspects or their representatives.
Detention of Badal and Tohra
Officials’ account
The leaders had been detained after refusing to comply with the Delhi police commissioner’s order to leave the Capital.
Political representatives’ account
Their release by an additional chief metropolitan magistrate ended their month-long detention, but the article gives no further statement from the leaders.
Meeting with President Zail Singh
Officials’ account
Prakash Mehrotra alleged that pressure was applied to prevent the President from meeting an ‘Indira Loyalists’ delegation.
Political representatives’ account
Despite the alleged pressure, Mehrotra said he met the President, who agreed to accept the group’s memorandum.
- Arrests announced
- 13 of an alleged 20-member gang were arrested, according to Punjab Police.
- Gang attribution
- Police attributed the gang to Avtar Singh Brahma.
- Reported attack
- Four people were allegedly killed at Chola Sahib in Sarhali on August 31.
- Vaidya investigation
- Mohan Katre went to Pune to supervise questioning of Sukhdeo Singh and Nirmal Singh.
- Political releases
- Parkash Singh Badal and Gurcharan Singh Tohra were released after a month in Tihar jail.
- Presidential meeting
- President Zail Singh agreed to accept a memorandum from the ‘Indira Loyalists’.