With the 42nd anniversary of the Operation Bluestar anniversary approaching on June 6, Punjab Police has rolled out an extensive security plan across the border belt, deploying around 4,000 police personnel and 11 companies of Central Paramilitary Forces to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident.
Special Director General of Police (Law and Order) PK Sinha, who reviewed security arrangements in Amritsar on Wednesday, said a comprehensive ‘security grid’ has been established covering Amritsar city and adjoining police districts, including Amritsar Rural, Batala, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran districts. The coordinated security mechanism aims to ensure seamless intelligence sharing and swift response to any potential threat during the sensitive period.
Sinha said that security agencies remain vigilant in view of attempts by anti-national elements and hostile forces across the border to disturb peace in Punjab.
“We are fully aware of the designs of hostile neighbours and anti-national elements trying to create unrest in the border state. Keeping this in view, all necessary preventive and security measures have been put in place to ensure a peaceful observance of the anniversary and maintain public safety across Punjab,” he said.
The Centre has provided 11 companies drawn from the Border Security Force (BSF), Rapid Action Force (RAF) and Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) to strengthen security arrangements in the region. These forces have been strategically deployed at key religious, public and vulnerable locations, while Punjab Police personnel have been tasked with maintaining round-the-clock vigil.
Nearly 30 experienced gazetted officers have been assigned supervisory responsibilities. They will oversee security operations, conduct regular inspections and ensure effective coordination among different security agencies. Intensive police domination exercises, vehicle checking drives and foot patrols have already been launched across the city and adjoining districts.
Security around the Golden Temple, railway stations, bus stands, markets, hotels and other crowded places has also been significantly enhanced. Police teams are carrying out surveillance operations and intelligence-based monitoring of suspicious activities.
The heightened security comes amid growing concerns over recent terror-related incidents in the state. Punjab Police has remained on high alert following back-to-back explosions outside the BSF headquarters in Jalandhar and the New Army Cantonment area at Khasa in Amritsar in recent past. On Tuesday, another grenade attack was reported outside a private hospital in Gurdaspur, further prompting authorities to tighten security across the border region.
Dal Khalsa has given a call for an Amritsar ‘bandh’ on June 6 to mark the anniversary of the operation.
Security agencies are closely monitoring social media platforms and intelligence inputs to prevent any attempt to disrupt peace during the anniversary period. Police authorities have appealed to the public to remain vigilant, cooperate with security personnel and immediately report any suspicious person, object or activity to the nearest police station