Ribeiro served as Director General of Punjab Police during its worst years of terrorism in Punjab.
The New York Times reported that in the 1980s, Ribeiro led the Punjab police in a "ferocious crackdown" on Sikh militants, in a policy christened "bullet for bullet"[2] by Arun Nehru.[3]
Ribeiro also served as IndianAmbassador to Romania[4] from 1989 until 1993.
In August 1991, Ribeiro was attacked and wounded in a Bucharest assassination attempt by gunmen[5] identified as Punjabi Sikhs.[2]
In an April 2006 interview with The Tribune, Julio Ribeiro explained that "It has been a role reversal for me... from fighting militants to fighting the corrupt administration."
He went on to explain that while he had been offered positions in government, "Fighting with guns was no longer my cup of tea; and I wanted to work for the people of my city, Mumbai. I wanted to be useful to lower socio-economic classes, and thus decided to work at the grass roots level."[6]
He also serves as non-executive Director to Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and as a Director of IIT Corporate Services Ltd.[4] He is usually interviewed for his views on communal harmony.[7]
In the early morning of 3 October 1986, 6 men in police disguise, identified in the press as Sikh militants[8][9][10] attacked Ribeiro inside the headquarters of Punjab Police in the city of Jalandhar, Punjab, India.[11] One guard was killed. Ribeiro, his wife, and four other police and paramilitary officers were injured. Ribeiro's wound was minor, but his wife was hospitalized.[8][12][13][14] All six attackers escaped in a waiting truck.[15] The Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) later claimed responsibility of this attack.[16] KCF leader Labh Singh allegedly led the assassination attempt.[9][10][17]
^ abWalia, Varinder (25 January 2002). "Panjwar village hums with poll activity". The Tribune. Retrieved 30 September 2009. ...who was responsible for the attack on Mr J.F. Rebeiro, the then DGP...
^ abThe Windsor Star (24 April 2008). "India files complaint over 'martyrs' parade". Canada.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2016. Retrieved 9 August 2009. One of those featured – Gen. Labh Singh – led the assassination attempt on the director-general of Punjab police, Julio Ribeiro, in 1986.
^Ribeiro, Julio (1 February 1998). Bullet for Bullet: My Life as a Police Officer (2 (paperback) ed.). Penguin Books Australia Ltd. p. 397. ISBN978-0-14-027140-9.