This is the front page of The Indian Express published on May 28, 1984, Forty Years Ago.
Fifteen persons were killed by the Lala Ram-Shri Ram gang of dacoits in Asta village, about 15km from Auraiya on the bank of the Jamuna in Etawah district. Chief Minister Sripati Misra, accompanied by the Director-General of Police, J N Chaturvedi, and the Inspector-General of Police (Intelligence) D K Agrawal rushed to the scene of the massacre around noon upon receiving the report.
Police nab terrorists
Terrorists fired at a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) sentry posted at Akhara Balanand situated near the Golden Temple complex. The CRPF sentry returned fire in self-defence, the police headquarters said. One Mangal Singh of Sultanwind was hit by a bullet in his left arm. After a hot chase, the CRPF personnel rounded up Joga Singh of Sarhali, Ravinder Singh of Mochian Bazar, Amritsar, and Ravinder Pal Singh of Chowk Ghantaghar.
UP Ministry shake-up
A decision on drastic changes at all levels of the Congress (I) ministry and the party in Uttar Pradesh may be taken next week after Prime Minister Indira Gandhi gets a full report on the causes of the party’s defeat in the Malihabad assembly by-election. An explosive situation within the ministry has been developing following accusations and counter-accusations among senior ministers.
A Quieter Thane
While Bhiwandi, Thane and Kalyan remained completely quiet, violence on a reduced scale was reported from various parts of Greater Bombay. The police, paramilitary forces and the Army continued to patrol troubled spots. While one person was stabbed at Bharatnagar, Trombay, shortly after midnight, two others were stabbed at Kherwadi after dawn.
