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Operation Bluestar anniversary passes off peacefully in Ludhiana
More than 3,000 paramilitary personnel had been deployed in the city and police had established multiple checkpoints
The Ludhiana police heaved a sigh of relief as the city remained peaceful on Monday on the anniversary of Operation Bluestar and no disturbance was reported.
A three-layered security plan was in force in the city since Sunday evening as more than 3,000 paramilitary personnel had been deployed. The police had also established checkposts in different areas of the city and the cyber cell was keeping tabs on social networking sites over any provocative posts which may disturb law and order.
Police commissioner Kaustubh Sharma and other senior police officials visited different religious places to check the security arrangements. Top officials had already met representatives of different religious organisations and asked them to not conduct any marches or processions.
As a precautionary measure, police had also restricted the movement of various Hindu and Sikh leaders and did not allow anyone to hold rallies and gatherings.
Rajiv Tandon, chairman of Shiv Sena Punjab, said that police officers came to his house and stayed there till evening so that he does not step out.
“Hindu leaders were restrained from coming out of their house, but a pro-khalistani march was organised in Amritsar. Such is the hypocrisy of the Punjab government,” said Tandon.
Other Hindu leaders, including Ashok Thapar, president of Shaheed Sukhdev Thapar Brigade Anti-Terrorist Front, was also restrained from coming out of the house.
Punjab Lok Congress leader Pritpal Singh Balliyewal, who is a close aide of former chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh, also accused police of keeping tabs on him. He alleged that they had visited his home on Sunday and asked him what his plans were for the anniversary of Operation Blue star.
Deputy commissioner Surabhi Malik had already banned assembly of five or more people at one place on Saturday under Section 144 of CrPC.
Security on toes at Ludhiana railway station
Ludhiana Railway Station remained peaceful amid heavy security cover on the 38th anniversary of Operation Bluestar on Monday.
Security teams from Government Railway Police (GRP), Railway Protection Force (RPF), intelligence wing and Ludhiana police commissionerate were deputed at the station to avoid any untoward incident.
Security staff was seen frisking visitors and passengers in trains and cops in civil clothes were also doing the rounds.
Joint teams of the railway police and RPF had also been deployed at the Phillaur, Goraya, Ahmedgarh, Dhandari Kalan, Jagraon and Sahnewal stations.
Deputy superintendent of police, GRP, Balram Rana, said, “We were fully equipped and prepared for any untoward incident. Our teams were patrolling the tracks, circulating areas, platforms and trains. Everything remained peaceful at the station.”
Contraband found abandoned
Meanwhile, the GRP recovered drugs which were lying abandoned during search operations at the railway station. While 8-kg poppy husk was found in a sack beneath a bench at platform number 2, 5-kg marijuana was inside an abandoned bag kept under a bench at platform 1. Police are scanning CCTV footage to identify the accused.
