3 paramilitary companies to stand guard in Amritsar
AMRITSAR : With some Sikh separatist outfits announcing to observe a complete shutdown during the 34th anniversary of Operation Bluestar on June 6 and hold marches in the city a day before, three companies of paramilitary forces have arrived here to ensure law and order.
Besides, nearly 3,200 cops, including 1,200 of Amritsar police, will be deployed.
Additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP headquarters and security) Charanjit Singh said, “We had requisitioned three companies of paramilitary forces, including two of rapid action force (RAF) and one of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP). Also, quick reaction teams and patrolling parties of the Amritsar police are already working to maintain law and order.”
“Till June 1, we are likely to get all the required forces, which will be deployed at various points of the city,” said the ADCP.
As per information, four teams of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) have also arrived in the city.
The security personnel will guard the Golden Temple and its surrounding areas such as the Bhandari Bridge and Hall Gate.
In 2014, a clash took place between the radicals and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) task force, in which several people were injured. The security is beefed up for the anniversary every year since.
Many Sikh outfits have announced to hold a ‘genocide remembrance march’ ahead of
the anniversary and due to which the Amritsar police are on their toes.
Sikh hardliner groups like the Dal Khalsa, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) led by Simranjit Singh Mann, and the All India Sikh Student Federation led by Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad have announced to hold marches across the city ahead of the anniversary.
SAD (A) general secretary Jarnail Singh Sakhira said, “We are holding a march from Gurudwara Santokhsar to the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, on June 5.”
Dal Khalsa spokesperson Kanwar Pal Singh said, “We
have resolved to undertake a ‘genocide remembrance march’ from Gurdwara Ranjit Avenue to the Akal Takht where Ardas would be performed in memory of the victims of Operation Bluestar on June 5 and a complete shutdown in the city the next day.”
The SGPC task force is also gearing up to tackle any kind of situation. SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal has been calling meetings to increase security inside and outside the Golden Temple. Longowal also sought cooperation from various Sikh outfits in ensuring the maryada in the shrine while observing the anniversary.