KPS Gill – Punjab’s former Director General of Police (DGP) credited with countering Khalistani terrorism in the 80s and the 90s – passed away at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi. He was 82.
Gill, who served twice as Punjab’s DGP, died after a sudden cardiac arrest due to cardiac arrhythmia. He retired from the IPS in 1995.
In 1989, he was awarded the Padma Shri for his work in civil service.
Gill’s stint as the security advisor to Chattisgarh in 2006 ended in controversy. There were reports that he quit over non-implementation of his suggestions. Another rumour was that he was ‘removed’ by the Chhattisgarh administration.
A state government official recently clarified that none of the rumours were true. “His tenure as per terms of his appointment was for a year. It was not renewed,” said the officer to TOI.
Most recently, he served as the president of the Indian Hockey Federation.
Several prominent personalities who worked with Gill took to social media to express grief over his passing.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condoled Gill’s death, mentioning the latter’s service to the nation.
BJP President Amit Shah called Gill an ‘iconic officer’, in a tweet condoling his death.
The Opposition’s Rahul Gandhi also took to Twitter to pay his last respects to Gill:
Veteran journalist Shekhar Gupta, who interviewed Gill on his flagship show ‘Walk the Talk’, said:
Senior journalist Rajdeep Sardesai also took to Twitter to offer his condolences.
Scholar and activist Madhu Kishwar called Gill one of the most “courageous” and “upright” of Indian police officers.
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