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Gill's flirtations with Lanka leave Advani seething

Onkar Singh in New Delhi

Union Home Minister L K Advani is angry with former director general of police K P S Gill for accepting an assignment with the Sri Lankan government, which is fighting a do-or-die battle with rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam forces to save Jaffna, its second most populous city.

The Indian government, wisened by its experience of the late 80s, when its peace-keeping forces suffered heavy losses in Sri Lanka, has refused to intervene this time. Gill's decision to guide Lankan forces in their anti-terrorist operations, thus, has come as a major embarrassment to the government.

Gill had yesterday told rediff.com he would soon make a preliminary visit to Sri Lanka to assess what kind of help he would provide in their fight against the LTTE. Gill's brief is likely to include tightening of the security cover for VVIPs in Colombo.

Advani has directed his officials to get in touch with Gill and ask him to speak to External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh.

Sources close to Gill, however, said Gill did speak to Jaswant before saying yes to the Sri Lankan government. "We have no idea why the home ministry is raising these objections now," said an aide requesting anonymity.

Gill, who is referred to as a super-cop in India, was singularly responsible for crushing militancy in Punjab. He, however, was quite disappointed with the way he was treated post-retirement.

The government sources today refused to comment when asked if the government was making an alternate offer to Gill. "Only the home minister can tell you about it. What I can tell you now is that something is in the pipeline," said a senior official.

Lanka seeks Gill's help in war against LTTE

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