Police’s forceful display foils breach bid

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Shambu (Patiala), Feb 23

The manual and technical expertise of the Punjab Police was on full display at the Punjab-Haryana border today to prevent INLD activists from reaching the SYL canal.

In contrast, the Haryana Police had far less men. They also fared poorly on the modern equipment front. 

The Punjab Police deployment was supervised by a DGP-rank officer, while a DSP-level officer was the in-charge on the Haryana side. INLD activists easily breached the Haryana security rings, but could not cross the Punjab Police barricades.

The specially trained anti-riot police — equipped with body suits that guard against fire, acid and stone missiles; head gear; pellet bullets; and chilli spray — was prepared for any eventuality.

Multi-barrel launchers mounted on Vajra vehicles, drones and a helicopter were used to ensure peace and foil any attempt to breach the barricades.

The helicopter and drones caught the fancy of the media and residents alike as these were used for the first time. 

The Punjab Police had drawn flak in the past for not having proper weaponry, modern equipment and permission to use the chopper in several pressing circumstances. Most of the modern equipment was bought after the police faced challenges such as the terror attack at Dinanagar and Pathankot Air Force station.

Learning from the past, the government provided its helicopter to the police for the third day consecutive today. Senior officials used it to survey the border. 

On several occasions, the drones were flown over the Ghaggar bridge, from where INLD activists marched towards Punjab. Besides drones, CCTV cameras installed at key points recorded the INLD’s march and police arrangements.

The anti-riot contingent was the first line of defence. It was earlier deployed in Bargari village, where clashes took place over sacrilege incidents. These men have been undergone a minimum 45-day training to handle a riotous mob. They are the “wall” of the police defence.

More than 5,000 men and women drawn from six police districts, besides 10 battalions of the paramilitary force and personnel of reserve battalions were deployed along the border, specially at the Shambu bridge and entry points to Sarala and Kapoori villages. 

Under the command of DGP (Law and Order) HS Dhillon, eight commandants of reserve battalions, five SSPs and two IGs remained on their toes the entire day. 

Punjab DGP Suresh Arora supervised the entire operation from the headquarters. 

In Sirhind, traffic on NH-1 diverted 

Fatehgarh Sahib: In view of the protest by the INLD on the Punjab-Haryana border, the police on Thursday diverted the traffic near Madhopur chowk in Sirhind. All vehicles were restrained from travelling towards Rajpura on the NH-1. All light vehicles going from Ludhiana, Khanna and Patiala to Haryana and Delhi were diverted via Sirhind-Fatehgarh Sahib-Landran chowk-Banur or Mohali airport road to Zirakpur-Dera Bassi-Lalru-Ambala. TNS

Brar takes on Amarinder, Badal

Muktsar: State TMC president Jagmeet Singh Brar on Thursday alleged the government failed to perform under Capt Amarinder Singh and Parkash Singh Badal. “They were busy targeting vote bank and consolidating personality cult. PM Narendra Modi’s announcement in Bathinda to get Punjab more waters was a hoax,” he said, adding the TMC had called a meeting on February 28 in Chandigarh. TNS

Be wary of SAD, INLD designs, says Mann  

Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday said people of Punjab and Haryana should stay cautious as the SAD and the INLD were blowing the SYL issue out of proportion to create law and order problem. AAP MP Bhagwant Mann said AAP would not allow water to flow to Haryana because Punjab has no extra water. He said AAP was firm on its stand and would take all legal and political steps that would be required to solve the river waters issue. TNS

Chautalas playing dirty politics: BJP

Chandigarh: Lambasting the Chautalas for “trying to vitiate the atmosphere by playing dirty politics over SYL”, BJP secretary Tarun Chugh on Thursday said the party would not allow Chautala and company to take mileage for the revival of INLD. Chugh claimed that by arresting Abhay Chautala, 19 INLD MLAs and other leaders before they could proceed to dig the SYL in Punjab, the police protected the interests of the state. TNS