Punjab, Haryana brace for border surge

Kapoori/Shambhu: Amid Indian National Lok Dal’s planned march from Ambala to dig up the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal across the border on Thursday, civil and police officials of Punjab and Haryana met on the intervention of the Central Government this afternoon and coordinated steps to maintain law and order.

Sarbjit Dhaliwal & Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Kapoori/Shambhu, February 22

Amid Indian National Lok Dal’s planned march from Ambala to dig up the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal across the border on Thursday, civil and police officials of Punjab and Haryana met on the intervention of the Central Government this afternoon and coordinated steps to maintain law and order.

The Punjab Police have stepped up security at three hot spots — Kapoori, Shambhu and Sarhala villages — where confrontation is likely since these can possibly be used by protesters to enter Punjab. “No one will be allowed to disturb law and order,” said Punjab DGP (Law and Order) HS Dhillon.

(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)

Police force drawn from six districts and 10 paramilitary battalions, including riot police and a mounted battalion, has been deployed along the border. The police have set up a multi-ring security cover at key points along the border to tackle protesters from both sides. This includes deployment in battle formation to prevent INLD supporters from entering the state. An outer ring has been formed to block supporters of the Lok Insaaf Party, led by the Bains Brothers, from reaching the canal from within Punjab.

Apart from concertina wire, the police have erected steel barricading and installed CCTV cameras. An aerial survey of the area was conducted today. Punjab DGP Suresh Arora said aerial surveillance would continue on Thursday.

The Shambhu bridge on the National Highway, which may be used by the INLD supporters led by the Chautalas to enter Punjab, has been fortified. The protesters are likely to hold a rally at a grain market near the bridge.

Haryana too has deployed police in large numbers at the bridge over the Ghaggar. There was, however, no visible police deployment by Haryana at Kapoori and Sarhala, where the SYL enters Haryana.

In Chandigarh, Joint Secretary (Home) Dilip Kumar, representing the Centre, Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal, DGP Arora along with intelligence officials met Haryana’s top civil and police officials to formulate a joint strategy. They discussed coordination between police of both states at the ground level.