Security beefed up in Amritsar, as festive season begins

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, August 30

With the onset of the festival season with Janmashtami on Monday, the Punjab Police have beefed up security to thwart any untoward incident. The police have also urged the people to remain vigilant as anti-national forces across the international border are constantly trying to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere in the state.

Repeated seizures of tiffin bombs, hand grenades and illegal weapons smuggled from Pakistan from time to time keep the security and intelligence agencies cautious.

According to the police, five teams of the Armed Reserve Police, two teams of commandoes, besides city police SWAT and anti-sabotage teams were deputed for security purpose. In view of Janmashtami today, the police carried out search operations at the railway station, hotels, inns and sarais to detect suspected elements. Police Commissioner Vikram Jeet Duggal said following the seizure of explosives in the border belt and from Jalandhar, the police were already on alert. We had maintained a heightened security at shrines to thwart any untoward incident. “We are leaving no stone unturned and have urged the public to remain vigilant and inform the police at helpline numbers 112 and 181 in case they found some abandoned or suspicious things,” he said.

A senior police official wishing not to be named said Gurmukh Singh Rode, who was nabbed by the Punjab Police recently, reportedly told the police that he had delivered three tiffin bombs, but he did not know about its whereabouts and the persons who took the delivery. Though the police have started a search operation, these bombs have not yet been recovered.

DCP, Law and Order, Parminder Singh Bhandal said police officials and SHOs had been directed to conduct regular patrolling. “Today also, patrolling parties and PCR teams would remain on roads till late night. Security has been tightened around religious places and other vital locations,” he said.

SSP, Amritsar rural police, Gulneet Singh Khuranna said a close watch was being kept on notorious elements while security had been beefed up at vital locations and religious places.