Security stepped up post Amritsar blast

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 18

The security of deras in the district has been intensified after the attack at the Nirankari Bhawan at Adliwal village in Amritsar on Sunday morning.

Two police personnel have been deployed at the Nirankari Bhawan located on the GT Road in the city.

All SHOs have initiated checking in the district that will continue till midnight.

Punjab’s headquarter of the Dera Sacha Sauda is at Salabatpura in Rampura, which is one of the biggest deras in the region.

Security has already been intensified with two police officials deployed here. But on Sunday, Naam Charcha was organised, due to which more police personnel from the Dyalpura police station reached the spot.

SSP Dr Nanak Singh said, “The security of all deras in the district has been intensified and there is a high alert following inputs of terrorists in the state.”

Kotwali police station SHO Davinder Singh, “After the attack at Nirankari Bhawan in Amritsar, two police personnel have been deployed at Nirankari Bhawan in Bathinda.”

The district police are on alert following the state government’s directions after the counter-intelligence wing report that six to seven Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terrorists are spotted in the area near Ferozepur and they are planning to move towards Delhi from the state.

The Bathinda police are facing a challenge in managing the law and order as most of the police personnel are busy in dealing with protesters. For the past few days, teachers, farmers and other unions have been staging protests in the city.

The district police in-charges have been on alert following the input, according to a letter issued by the Punjab Inspector General of Police (Counter Intelligence) office.

In the letter, police officials have been asked to set up checkpoints at all important routes, conduct strict vehicle inspection and take suitable counter measures for all sensitive locations.