Vigil up around all dera centres across state
JALANDHAR/PATIALA/BATHINDA/FARIDKOT: :Security has been beefed up around the centres of different sects, Nirankari bhawans in particular, across the state, a day after three people were killed in a grenade attack in Amritsar.
Convener of the Jalandhar chapter of Nirankari sect Kesar Singh said it was business as usual and the Amritsar attack had no direct bearing on the morning prayer meet on Monday. However, some followers said that there was a sense of fear among the followers.
Police teams also visited centres of the Nirankari, Namdhari, Sachkhand sects and other religious places in Jalandhar to take stock of the security.
Police commissioner Gurpreet Singh Bhullar said, “Security personnel are coordinating with dera people and cops will be deployed outside the centres during their congregations.”
In Patiala district, which has at least 10 Nirankari centres, security and patrolling has been stepped up.
“All DSPs have been asked to take stock of security arrangements at these centres in their respective jurisdictions,” senior superintendent of police Mandeep Singh Sidhu said.
He said managements of these centres have been asked to install CCTV cameras on the premises, and at the entrance.
“We have also directed Nirankari centres to provide us schedule of their events planned in the coming days so that the security arrangements can be made accordingly,” the SSP said.
Condemning the Amritsar attack, chief of Nabha Nirankari Ashram Balwant Singh said the Mission will continue to function as before. “We will provide all the support and co-operation to the administration and the police, besides taking measures at our own level,” he said. There are as many as 28 Nirankari bhawans in the zone comprising Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Faridkot and Barnala districts.
Zonal in-charge of Sant Nirankari Mission SP Duggal said they are satisfied with the security arrangements.
Bathinda SSP Nanak Singh said security has been beefed up in general and around the religious places in particular.
He said patrolling has been stepped up and armed cops have been deployed at all Nirankari bhawans. “The police force is already on red alert,” he said.
SECURITY UP IN BARGARI
The Faridkot police have beefed up security in Bargari town of Faridkot where parallel jathedars are staging a sit-in seeking justice in the Bargari and Behbal Kalan firing incidents.
Faridkot senior superintendent of police Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu said: “We have deployed adequate number of police personnel in Bargari and checkpoints are in place at the entry and exit points”.
Police also reviewed security at five Nirankari bhawans and centres of other deras across Faridkot.
We have also directed Nirankari centres to provide us schedule of their events planned in the coming days so that security can be ensured. MANDEEP SINGH SIDHU , Patiala SSP
We have deployed adequate number of police personnel in Bargari and checkpoints are in place at the entry and exit points to the town. RAJ BACHAN SINGH SANDHU , Faridkot SSP