23 companies of paramilitary forces to be deployed

Tribune News Service 

Amritsar, January 14 

In order to ensure free and fair elections and thwart any untoward incident during the coming Assembly poll and the Lok Sabha bypoll for the Amritsar seat slated for February 4, as many as 23 companies of paramilitary forces would be deployed in the holy city. 

Talking to the Amritsar Tribune, Police Commissioner G Nageshwara Rao confirmed that the city police has sought 23 companies of paramilitary forces out of which five have already reached here while seven would be arriving tomorrow. 

“Remaining contingents of paramilitary forces will reach here by January 22,” Rao said. He said that around 106 polling stations have been declared sensitive in the city and elaborate arrangements have been planned to prevent any violence or untoward incident.

“The city police have been on their toes. We are continuously holding meetings with the administration as well as senior police officials of the city in order to make foolproof security arrangements. Various police stations along with paramilitary forces are carrying out a flag march in order to instil a sense of security among the residents,” the Police Commissioner said. 

Meanwhile, around 76 per cent of the firearms have been deposited with the Police Department in the past 11 days since the announcement of the model code of conduct.

Rao said the city has 10,072 arms licence holders while there are 12,318 weapons issued against these licences. 

He said over 76 per cent of the weapons have been either deposited with the police station concerned or with the gun house owners. 

He said the remaining weapons would also be deposited with the police soon. 

Only a few persons have been exempted from depositing firearms this time, he said.