DGP reviews security preparedness in Sirsa

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

DGP BS Sandhu today visited Sirsa, where the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda is situated, to take stock of the situation and preparedness of the police ahead of the verdict in the rape case against dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

The DGP reviewed law and order at a meeting with Hisar range IGP Amitabh Dhillon, Sirsa SP Ashwin Shenvi, DSPs, Inspectors, SHOs and in charges of various police posts in the district. He also met prominent people from the district.

Sandhu said after the meetings that paramilitary forces were expected to reach Sirsa and other districts of the state tonight or tomorrow morning. The police were fully alert to deal with any situation.

He said 10 companies of paramilitary forces would be stationed in Sirsa. Besides a suitable deployment in Panchkula, additional forces were also being deployed in Fatehabad, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal, Kurukshetra and Ambala, which are considered sensitive districts.

The DGP said elaborate arrangements were being made from Sirsa to Panchkula to maintain law and order on August 25 when the dera head is to appear before the Special CBI Court in Panchkula and he himself would be monitoring the situation.

He said the police were keeping a close watch on social media as the medium had been misused several times in the recent past to spread rumours. “The police will book any person found spreading rumour through social media under provisions of the Information Technology Act and other relevant provisions,” he added.

Sandhu took stock of the arrangements in Fatehabad in the evening.

Meanwhile, the police have apprehensions that followers of Dera Sacha Sauda can indulge in large-scale rioting and arson and block roads if the Special CBI Court’s verdict goes against the dera chief on August 25.

According to a letter written by an SP to a Deputy Commissioner, the possibility of anti-social elements instigating dera followers to indulge in rioting, arson, road blocks and violence and damage government and private properties is not ruled out.

Meanwhile, Fatehabad DC Hardeep Singh has ordered promulgation of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC in the district.