Hindustan Times (Bathinda)

Mann: Those trying to disturb peace in state won’t be spared

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

CHANDIGARH : Hours after the rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) attack on Punjab Police’s intelligen­ce wing headquarte­rs in Mohali, chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday said that those trying to disturb peace in Punjab will not be spared.

Mann, who held a meeting with director general of police (DGP) VK Bhawra and top officials of the intelligen­ce wing, said strictest punishment will be given to such elements. “I held a meeting with the DGP and officers of the intelligen­ce wing in the wake of the incident. The details are coming out. Some arrests have been made,” he said after meeting the officials.

The CM also said, “I want to say that whosoever tries to spoil the atmosphere of Punjab will not be spared and they will get strictest punishment which their coming generation­s will remember.”

Set your priorities right: Warring to Mann

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, while extending full support and cooperatio­n to the Punjab government, asked Mann to set his priorities right and focus on serious challenges confrontin­g the state. “Inexperien­ce and misplaced priorities of the AAP government are being exploited by terrorists who seem to be raising their head in Punjab”, he said in a statement, condemning the attack.

Warring said the onus was on the government to prevent such attacks and also identify and punish the culprits. “While we have full faith in Punjab Police’s ability and competence to meet any challenge as it has a proven record, we hope that powers that be will set their priorities right and use the potential of the police for the right purpose”, he remarked.

Describing the deteriorat­ing law and order situation as “alarming”, leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa asked the chief minister to convene all-party meeting on this issue . “I urge @Bhagwantma­nn ji to review the security situation and call an All Party Meeting to let us know steps taken to maintain the peace and security in Punjab (sic),” the Congress leader tweeted.

Coordinate­d efforts needed: BJP

BJP state general secretary Subhash Sharma called for coordinate­d efforts to defeat the designs of enemies of the nation, hoping that the AAP government will get down to face the serious terror challenges and refix its priorities from political vendetta to serious governance. “Mohali terror attack should come as a warning that you cannot take security of the state lightly and use your police to settle scores with your political opponents”, he said in a statement.

Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt) president Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa also expressed deep concern over the attack, urging Mann to immediatel­y shift his focus towards strengthen­ing the deteriorat­ing law and order situation of the state. He also called upon the people to remain vigilant of the conspiraci­es being hatched by the antipunjab forces.

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