73 companies of paramilitary force, nearly 7K cops on guard

PK Jaiswar

Amritsar, February 19

As many as 73 companies of paramilitary forces along with nearly 7,000 cops have been deputed for the conduct of peaceful poll in Amritsar.

Of these, 28 companies were in the city, while the remaining 45 companies have been allotted to rural police. The police have also rounded up many suspects, who could create troubles in tomorrow’s elections, officials informed.

Police Commissioner Dr Sukhchain Singh Gill said: “Adequate arrangements have been made for security at each and every polling booth and nobody will be allowed to take law into their hands and deteriorate the law and order situation. If anybody indulges in such tactics, they will be dealt with an iron hand.”

On Friday evening, he along with the Deputy Commissioner-cum-District Election Officer Gurpreet Singh Khaira took stock of the security arrangements in the city.

According to information, a posse of police have been stationed in the Amritsar East constituency, which is declared a critical location in the holy city. From there, sitting MLA and Punjab Pradesh Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu is contesting against senior SAD leader and former Cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia. It has become a prestigious seat for both.

Majithia left his stronghold Majitha constituency to fight from here after challenged by Sidhu.

Besides, Amritsar South and Amritsar North constituencies were also declared as critical. From South, sitting Congress MLA Inderbir Singh Bolaria is pitted against SAD’s Talbir Singh Gill, who is a close confidant of Majithia, while in Amritsar North, SAD’s Anil Joshi is facing a tough contest from former IG Kunwar Vijay Partap Singh, who is fighting on a AAP ticket.

Out of 2,218 polling booths in the city, 355 have been declared as critical. Along with paramilitary force jawans, around 50 cops were deputed in each polling booth for security.

In rural belt, several areas in Rajasansi, Ajnala, Jandiala besides Majitha constituencies were declared critical and elaborate arrangements have been made by the rural police.

The Police Commissioner said around 300 PCR teams would remain on road and in case of any information regarding violence, they would reach there within minutes to control the situation. Eyes were also being kept on the movement of outsiders.

SSP Amritsar Rural Deepak Hilori said every polling station would have Central Armed Police Force jawans besides Punjab Police cops to ensure security and peaceful atmosphere.

Police Commissioner along with Deputy Commissioner of Police, Parminder Singh Bhandal, DCP Rashpal Singh and Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police besides the police force carried out a flag march in high profile Amritsar East constituency on Saturday. They also visited different polling stations.