Dera case: Cops, admn on toes

Tribune News Service

Muktsar/Bathinda, August 21

With the verdict in the rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh set to be announced on Friday, normal works of the district administration have taken a backseat as the administration and the police are busy making security arrangements. Muktsar shares its boundary with Sirsa district in Haryana, where the sect has its headquarters.

The entire district administration today remained busy holding meetings to review the security arrangements.

Besides, Deputy Commissioner Sumeet Jarangal and SSP Sushil Kumar held a meeting with the sect followers at Malout town in the evening and appealed them to maintain peace after the court verdict.

The District Magistrate has already imposed a ban on the assembly of five or more persons in the district under Section 144 of the CrPC.

Meanwhile, in Bathinda policemen have been deployed at all deras and naam charcha houses for security. The police today held a flag march with paramilitary forces, Central Reserve Police and Rapid Action Force (RAP).

Capt tells DGP to monitor situation 
Chandigarh: Ahead of the verdict in a rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Chief Minister Capt Amarinder singh on Monday directed the DGP to visit Patiala, Mansa, Bathinda and Ludhiana to thwart any attempt to disrupt peace. Reviewing the preparedness, the CM gave his chopper to the DGP to conduct an aerial survey of the vulnerable areas. tns

Security forces conduct flag march in Moga 
Moga: The police and the Central paramilitary forces conducted a flag march on Monday across the district. The dera followers have already started holding meetings in their strongholds in Punjab and Haryana. Moga SSP Raj Jit Singh Hundal claimed that elaborate arrangements had been made to maintain law and order in the district. TNS 

Gazetted officers as executive magistrates
Faridkot: The state government on Monday issued orders to appoint all gazetted officers in the state as executive magistrate to maintain law and order. TNS