Operation Bluestar anniversary: 7 paramilitary companies to keep vigil in Amritsar

With multiple radical outfits and organisations gearing up to observe the 33rd anniversary of Operation Bluestar on June 6, the city police officials are on toes.As per information 7 companies of paramilitary forces have been called to ensure a peaceful event.

Apart from the paramilitary troops, around 2,000 cops from neighbouring districts have been also called in. The movement of the cops, around the Golden Temple and areas near it, has also increased. As many outfits had announced to hold a ‘remembrance march’ before the anniversary, police are watchful that nothing goes wrong.

Outfits like Dal Khalsa, SAD (Amritsar) and All India Sikh Student Federation led by Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad will be holding marches across the city in coming days.

Amritsar police commissioner S Srivastava said, “Two companies of the Rapid Action Force and five companies of the CRPF have been called in as part of the security arrangements. They will be deployed today.

Around 1,500 to 2,000 cops of the Punjab police will also be involved in the security arrangements.” Police officials will also be present in plain clothes inside the shrine. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) Task Force is also gearing up to tackle any sort of situation.

Security has been enhanced for the anniversary since a couple of years ago a clash between SGPC Task Force and members of a radical body in 2014 had left around 8 persons injured during the Operation Bluestar anniversary. Seeking cooperation of different outfits to ensure that the Operation Bluestar anniversary is observed peacefully, the SGPC chief Kirpal Singh Badungar met Kanwarpal Singh Bittu, spokesperson of the radical outfit Dal Khalsa.

Badungar also met SAD (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann.The SGPC chief sought their cooperation in ensuring the ‘maryada’ is maintained in the shrine while observing the anniversary on June 6. The SGPC chief also met Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh regarding the anniversary.

All Sikh bodies to observe anniversary

Sangrur: SAD (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann said various Sikh organisations, along with the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) are going to remember Sikh “genocide” jointly which is a positive sign for the Sikh community. “We will remember Operation Bluestar jointly this time. Even Sikhs did not participate in KPS Gill’s last rites they will also not attend his bhog ceremony.” Mann told HT.