Company Bagh surprise check triggers panic among residents

PK Jaiswar
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, November 29

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The police, along with a team of SWAT (special weapon and tactics), on Thursday carried out a search operation at historic Ram Bagh Garden, also known as Company Bagh that fuelled rumours about presence of some suspicious persons in the garden who could carry out some nefarious activity in the holy city.

Due to this, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Jagmohan Singh, along with Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (ADCP)-City II, had to arrive at the garden in the afternoon only to explain that it was a routine check after receiving numerous complaints regarding presence of bad elements who indulge in drug peddling. Therefore, a search operation was launched in the garden, spread over 80-acre land.

It is evident to mention here that the state is already on high alert over sneaking in of terrorists from Pakistan in the recent past. It was followed by a grenade attack on Nirankari Bhavan, Adliwal village, that killed three persons and left 22 injured.

During the search operation, the police pressed the dog squad into service and the park was cordoned off. The garden is among the favourites of morning walkers, who were not allowed to enter the garden complex till the search operation was over after nearly three hours.

The police took four persons (migrant labourers) in custody for interrogation. Nothing objectionable was found from their possession and they were released after questioning, said DCP Jagmohan Singh. They were identified as Mukesh of Lucknow, Mohit Kumar of Chhatisgarh, Raj Bahadur of Nepal and Paramjit Singh of Putlighar.

He said there were numerous complaints about presence of bad elements in the Ram Bagh Garden, popularly known as Company Bagh.

“In the past, a couple of persons were found murdered in Skatari Bagh. This prompted us to carry out a thorough search of the park,” said ADCP Lakhbir Singh.

Social media was abuzz with messages regarding presence of terrorists, creating panic among residents. “People are urged not to panic. The police are on alert. Search operations are being carried out in public places regularly,” he added.