Over 1,200 cops to keep vigil at Nirankari meet
AROUND 5 LAKH FOLLOWERS ARE LIKELY TO ATTEND THE SAMAGAM IN PANIPAT, THE FIRST ONE OUTSIDE DELHI
SAMALKHA (PANIPAT) : More than 1,200 policemen from Karnal and Rohtak range have been deputed to ensure the safety and security of three-day Nirankari Sant Samagam, beginning here from November 24.
The security arrangements were beefed up following a grenade attack during a congregation at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar’s Rajasansi village earlier this month, in which three followers were killed and more than 10 injured.
Additional director general of police (ADGP) Karnal range Navdeep Singh Virk monitored the security and held meetings with police officials. A police control room has also been set up inside the venue. “We have made elaborate arrangements to ensure the safety of the visitors and as per the current situation, we have deputed 1,200 armed and unarmed cops and if required, we will call more,” Virk told Hindustan Times on the sidelines of a security review meeting at the venue.
Besides 16 DSPs, some policemen were also deputed in civil dresses to keep a vigil, he said. Also Muhammad Akil, ADGP law and order, said that he has also visited the venue to review the security arrangements.
Besides heavy police deployment, thousands of the volunteers of the mission are also deputed for security arrangements. “We re expecting a gathering of more than 5 lakh and nearly 50,000 volunteers will remain on duty during the congregation,” said HS Kohli, Sewa Dal administration in-charge.
‘PROVIDING SECURITY GOVT’S DUTY’
Kripa Sagar, in-charge of media wing of the Sant Nirankari Mission said the government should ensure safety. “Lakhs of followers will reach Samalkha for the samagam, but it is the duty of the state government and the police ensure safety of every visitor,” he said. Panipat and Sonepat district administrations were also monitoring the situation very closely. Sonepat deputy commissioner Vinay Singh said 10 duty magistrates have been appointed for this event.
However, the followers said that they were unmoved by any threats. “Such attacks cannot deter us and we are all reaching the venue in large numbers,” said Sanjeev Kumar, a follower who had come from Bareilly.
Pushpa Saroj from Allahabad, who was camping here for past one week, says, “After the Amritsar incident, I got phone calls from my husband and children but I told them there was nothing to fear and we are safe here.”
SAMALKHA NEW CENTRE OF NIRANKARIS
As per information from officials on duty at the venue, the mission had purchased about 700 acres of land adjoining the NH 44 and Delhi-Amritsar railway track for this event, as they had to face problems in Delhi. This year, the congregation was being organised in 500 acres and all arrangements of shelter, food, toilet and bath for the stay of about 2 lakh followers has been made.