Police force deployed at Golden Temple
Prohibitory orders imposed
From Varinder Walia and Gurdip Singh

AMRITSAR, Feb 6 — The police has been deployed at all entry and exit points around the Golden Temple complex to ensure peaceful holding of meeting of the SGPC executive on February 10 apparently to remove the Akal Takht Jathedar.

However, Bhai Ranjit Singh said the atmosphere of the temple would not be allowed to be disturbed and peace would be maintained.

The Director-General of Punjab Police, Mr P.C. Dogra, who specially flew in to Amritsar to review the law and order situation, however, said that the police was alive to the situation and nobody would be allowed to take the law into his hands.

He said that all preventive measures would be taken to ensure that the proposed meeting was held in a peaceful manner. "We should not be found wanting and napping", he added.

Stating that a special vigil had to be maintained over the law and order situation, he admitted that plainclothesmen went inside the SGPC complex. "We cannot allow the situation to be exploited by the bad elements", he added.

He parried a direct question that anti-social elements could benefit from the surcharged atmosphere.

Mr Dogra denied that the police had carried out a search of the office of the SGPC President, Mr G.S. Tohra, and some other buildings. Saying that no policemen either in plain clothes or in uniform, entered the precincts of the Golden Temple.

Meanwhile, the district police and civil administration admitted that some police officials in plain clothes went into some buildings of the SGPC complex last evening to see arrangements being made for the February 10 meeting.

Addressing pressmen jointly, the Deputy Commissioner, Mr Narinderjit Singh and the SSP, Mr G.S. Sahota, however, denied the SGPC claim that the police carried out a search of the office of the SGPC president.

Mr Sahota admitted that security around the Golden Temple complex was strengthened, specially at all the main gates.

Mr Sahota said that about 80 policemen were permanently deployed in the complex in plain clothes to check the entry of anti national elements.

He further said that police went into the SGPC complex after a meeting was held in the circuit house in the evening, attended by senior police officials, the manager of the Golden Temple, Mr Dial Singh, and the chief of the task force of the SGPC, Mr Chanan Singh.

The SGPC, meanwhile, alleged that the police was sent inside the SGPC complex for demoralising both its staff and devotees.

Giving reasons for the deployment of security forces around the Golden Temple complex, Mr Sahota said people were feeling insecure after the statement of Bhai Ranjit Singh that bloody Baisakhi of 1978 should not be repeated.

The Deputy Commissioner said that besides ban orders under Section 144 CrPC, the district administration could take some special measures for the sake of preventing any untoward situation.

He said that Section 144 CrPC was promulgated for one month banning assembly of four or more persons and carrying of arms in view of the Sikh conclave at Akal Takht on February 2. This will remain in force till the end of this month, he added.

He denied that such preventive measures were taken to intimidate or demoralise the SGPC officials and devotees.

The SGPC in a press release claimed that policemen in plain clothes led by the SSP, Mr G.S. Sahota entered the complex twice without any provocation. The first entry of about a dozen officials took place at about 8.30 p.m. when they took a round of Guru Ram Das Niwas. They then went to Teja Singh Samundri Hall and the residential accommodation of the SGPC President.

For the second time heavy police force in plain clothes entered all the serais of the Golden Temple complex and buildings of langar Sri Guru Ram Das and remained deployed on all entry and exit points of the temple till this morning.

This is the first time after the assassination of the former Chief Minister, Mr Beant Singh that the police entered the complex. This has hurt the Sikh feelings, the press release alleged.

Bhai Ranjit Singh, meanwhile, appealed to the devotees to visit the Golden Temple to pay obeisance without any fear or tension.

He categorically said he was not going to create any situation which could harm the interests of Sikhs and Punjab. On the entry of police in the Golden Temple serais, the Jathedars said that the state government should not take any step which could create an unsavoury situation.

He urged the authorities to withdraw the police from all points around the temple. Bhai Ranjit Singh said that if they had any intention to "lift" him they were welcome at his residence. But should not disturb the sanctity of the temple.

Tohra condemns police searches
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 6 — The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee President, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, today condemned the police "nakabandi" and searches inside the Golden Temple complex.

Talking to TNS over the cell phone, he said security forces had been deployed inside the complex. As a measure of "strong protest" over this step by the Akali government he had ordered, in writing, closure of the SGPC offices till the police from inside was withdrawn.

Mr Tohra said accompanied by a Magistrate the police searched the serais and other places inside the complex. Moreover as during the earlier rule the devotees going to the temple were being frisked and checked at all entry points reminiscent of the gory past.

That such a situation should have arisen when Akalis are in power does not behove Mr Parkash Singh Badal, who besides being Chief Minister is also the SAD president. "What is happening now is like what the Congress, Moughals and Pathans used to do earlier to cause sacrilege of the holy place."

This new development of deploying security forces has "deeply hurt" the Sikh sentiments and the step was "most condemnable" since it has been taken by a government which is "our own".

The SGPC offices, therefore, will remain closed and inoperative as long as normalcy was not restored. It was regrettable that neither any objectionable material or men were caught from the serais and other places.

CM denies reports of police searches
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 6 — The Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said here today that there was no truth in the reports that the police was sent to search certain inns and the SGPC office in the Golden Temple complex at Amritsar last night.

Talking to mediapersons at his office in the civil secretariat this morning, Mr Badal said that he had checked up with the Deputy Commissioner, the SSP, the DIG and other senior officers posted at Amritsar and they had told him (Mr Badal) that no search was made in the complex area.

When asked whether the security around the complex had been beefed up keeping in view the prevailing circumstances, Mr Badal said that only routine exercise was followed and that there was strict instructions to the police not to interfere in the complex affairs in any way.

When asked whether "rumours" were being spread with certain motives with regard to police search in the complex, Mr Badal said it was possible that such things were being done to create misunderstanding in the state.

He said it was a Shiromani Akali Dal's government in the state and it would not do any much thing of sending the police in the complex. He said, otherwise, it was the duty of the police to maintain routine law and order around the complex and with this view police authorities concerned might be increasing or reducing the number of policemen as per requirement around the complex.

SGPC office closed
Tribune News Service

AMRITSAR, Feb 6 — In a tactical move the SGPC today closed its offices till February 10 on the direction of its chief, Mr G. S. Tohra.

Although no reason was given in the notice displaced in the SGPC office, yet was described by an SGPC spokesman as a protest against the police entry in the complex last evening. But it could also be a move to stop the holding of the meeting of the executive as directed by the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission. The meeting is scheduled to be held on February 10.

The SGPC has not sent the agenda of the meeting to the members so far. The commission had directed the body to post its three-item agenda, namely to discuss infighting among the Jathedars of Takhts, the appeal of 131 members to Akal Takht for the withdrawal of the controversial hukamnama, and the tercentenary celebrations of the Khalsa.

Badal to send reply today
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 6 — The Punjab Chief Minister and President of the Shiromani Akali Dal, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, said here today that he would reply to the letter from the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Bhai Ranjit Singh, with regard to the "Quami agenda" tomorrow. The reply would be sent through a special messenger and also on fax to him.

Though he refused to disclose the contents of the reply, he gave broad indications that he would discuss the entire issue with decision-making bodies of SAD before sending the reply.

"I am not a dictator but head of a democratic party and it was natural that the issue should be discussed at the proper party forum", Mr Badal said when asked whether he would take the party's Political Affairs Committee or other such bodies into confidence before submitting the reply.

He said he was not going to Amritsar to submit the reply but sending a messenger. He refused to make comments about the Jathedar. Replying to another question whether he agreed with the agenda proposed by the Jathedar, Mr Badal said that he would tell about it only after sending the reply. He refused to say anything more on this issue.

When asked whether fresh attempts were being made by some persons, including Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, Mr Kuldeep Singh Wadala and Mr Jasbir Singh Rode, for a patch-up between him and the SGPC chief, Mr Tohra and others involved in this controversy, Mr Badal said he had received no offer from anybody with regard to the patch-up. It was true that I met Mr Mann and others two days ago, he said.

He also made it clear that he was not going to Fatehgarh Sahib for participating in a function organised by Mr Mann and others on February 12 to celebrate the birth anniversary of late Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

In fact, Mr Mann and others are organising a parallel political conference on February 12 at Fatehgarh Sahib as on the same day SAD headed by Mr Badal is organising a political conference at Patiala. On February 12, the Badal government would complete its two years in office. Capt Kanwaljit Singh, Punjab Finance Minister, who has been made in charge of 12 February conference by Mr Badal has been moving in the Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib area for the past several days to mobilise party rank and file for the success of the conference.

It is being held in the stronghold of the SGPC chief, Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra. By organising the conference in his area, the Badal camp wants to give further jolt to Mr Tohra and his confidants in the Patiala-Fatehgarh Sahib belt.

Justifying his participation in the bhog ceremony of Harminder Singh Sandhu, a frontline leader of the All-India Sikh Students Federation who was shot dead a few years ago, Mr Badal said that the print media had made unfair comments and exaggerated the whole issue.

He said it was his duty to bring the youth to join political mainstream and that he had done nothing wrong by going to Harminder Singh's place. Moreover, Mr Badal said that Harminder Singh's father was the president of the Punjab Mulajam Dal, and official body affiliated to the Shiromani Akali Dal and one other relation of Mr Mohan Singh Mattian was a decade-old SAD activist. Even Harminder Singh was killed by militants, he added.

He said that even in future he would like to attend functions organised by the youth who were either intending to join the political mainstream or had already done so.

Mr Badal reiterated that nobody would be allowed to disturb peace in the state. The Punjab Government would guarantee peace in the state and nobody should have any doubt about this, he added.

When asked that the BJP had issued a strong statement with regard to Jathedar's statement made on February 2, Mr Badal said that it would be better if the question was posed to the BJP in this connection.

53 detonators found on Sukhbir's route
From A.S. Prashar
Tribune News Service

BHAGPUR VILLAGE (Ludhiana), Feb 6 — The recovery of 53 detonators last evening by the police from near the scene of a public meeting addressed by Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, Union Minister of State for Industries, here today may have foiled a possible attempt on the life of the son of the Punjab Chief Minister.

The recovery was made around 6.30 p.m. yesterday by a team led by SHO Kehar Singh, Kum Kalan. The bag containing the detonators was found under a tree not far from the road Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal was to take for going to a public meeting organised by a senior Akali activist, Mr Sharanjit Singh Dhillon.

The meeting was held today as originally planned, but Mr Sukhbir Singh left by a helicopter instead of a car.

The SSP, Mr Kuldeep Singh said the detonators were recovered during a combing operation, normally undertaken by the police on the eve of a visit by a VVIP.

He declined to speculate on the identity and motive of the suspects.

There was speculation that those behind the incident might have planned to transport the detonators to the scene of the public meeting during the night.

Some of the detonators were shown to a group of reporters by the SSP at Ludhiana today in the presence of Mr Sukhbir Singh.

When asked for the comments, the Union Minister said he did not have much information on the recovery of the detonators. "However, I am doing my duty while the policemen are doing theirs", he quipped.

Recovery of the detonators has caused concern to security personnel. Two weeks ago, the police had recovered nearly 10 kg of RDX from the banks of the Sutlej at Phillaur, 15 km from Ludhiana. Later, an AK-47 assault rifle was also recovered.

After the recovery of the detonators at Bhagpur, the entire area was cordoned off and a massive search was carried out by the police throughout the night.

The recovery of the detonators assumes significance when viewed against the backdrop of the growing confrontation between the Badal and Tohra factions and increasingly strong statements issued by the Jathedar of Akal Takht during the past few weeks.

This, in turn, has led to widespread apprehension about the revival of militancy in Punjab.

Ironically, Mr Sukhbir Singh Badal, told reporters at Bhagpur that he did not think that the Badal-Tohra feud would have any effect on the law and order situation in the state.

He pointed out that Mr Parkash Singh Badal had already declared that law and order would be maintained at all costs.

He declined to comment on the hukamnama issued by the Jathedar of Akal Takht and speculate on the possible twists to the Badal-Tohra feud.

The public meeting was attended among others by Mr Charanjit Singh Atwal, Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Dr Rattan Singh, Minister for Animal Husbandry, Mr Amrik Singh Aliwal and Mrs Satwinder Kaur Dhaliwal, both MPs, Mr Jagdish Singh Garcha, Mr Sadhu Singh and Mr Bir Singh Lopoke, MLAs, Mr Jagjit Singh Ghungrana and Mr Ranjit Singh Talwandi, chairman of two Punjab corporations.