Chandigarh, May 19
Punjab continued to be peaceful for the second day in a row. As a confidence-building measure, paramilitary forces conducted flag marches in various towns and cities. Sources said the forces would stay in the state till the situation normalises completely.
The government transferred Bathinda SSP Naresh Kumar and withdrew four personal security officers ( PSOs) provided to the Dera Sacha Sauda’s chief. Except for minor incidents at a few places, the state remained by and large peaceful. However, at a few places protest marches, road and rail blockade were organised.
AIG personnel Naunihal Singh, who has served as the SSP at Mohali, Khanna and Jalandhar has been posted at Bathinda in place of Naresh Kumar, who has been shifted to AIG, community policing and NRI affairs, Punjab. AIG,community policing, Kapil Dev has been posted as the AIG, personnel.
PSOs were provided to the dera chief by the previous government. The inner rings of dera chief’s security are managed by his close confidants. Announcement regarding the withdrawal of the PSOs was made by DGP N.P.S. Aulakh, who along with media advisor to the Chief Minister Harcharan Singh Bains interacted with media persons here today.
The state government which was blamed for the soft handling of the situation during the past six days was left with no alternative except for changing the Bathinda SSP from where the trouble started on May 14. Had the police acted with alacrity on May 14, the state would have been saved from the violent incidents that followed the Bathinda incident.
However, at today’s interaction both Bains and Aulakh said it was not soft handling but a tactful, patient and mature handling of the situation. Use of restrain should not be taken as the police weakness or the lack of command but as a mature handling of the situation. “Since May 14 the entire atmosphere was so surcharged by religious passions and emotions that it needed a careful and restrained handling to save the loss of lives and property. Use of excessive force would have given dangerous turn to the entire situation with long- term fatal consequences”, Harcharan Bains said. Asked
whether any case would be registered against the dera chief, the DGP said the IG was conducting the inquiry and on the basis it’s report further action would be taken.
In such a surcharged atmosphere, one life had been lost and that also in peculiar circumstances. The government has already announced to compensate the individuals who suffered loss to property during the past six days, Bains added.
Meanwhile, a large number of activists form various Sikh organisations today blocked the national highway and railway line near Subhanpur seeking the arrest of dera chief. Rail traffic was affected because of this reason. There were reports of protest march towards the dera near Mullanpur in Ludhiana district. However, th police was successful in dealing with the situation, it is learnt.
