Operation Bluestar anniversary: Security beefed up in Amritsar, Punjab

Chandigarh: Security forces in Amritsar and other areas of the state have been asked to remain on alert ahead of the 31st anniversary of Operation Bluestar on Saturday.

Punjab Police personnel conducted a flag march in Amritsar last evening in areas leading to the Golden Temple Complex where the Operation Bluestar was undertaken in 1984 to flush out militants.

Punjab Police sources said on Friday that the security personnel in the districts have been asked to remain extra alert in view of the killing of a Sikh youth during protests in Jammu on Thursday against the removal of posters of Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale.

The deployment of police personnel at vital installations, including bus stands, railway stations and other sensitive localities has been increased, sources said. Police personnel were also checking vehicles. Besides Amritsar, flag marches were conducted by Punjab police at various places including Faridkot, Moga and Sri Muktsar Sahib.

According to a report from Moga, IGP (Bathinda Zone) reviewed the security arrangements with senior police officers, including SSP Jatinder Singh Khaira of the district.

The Moga district police conducted a flag march in the city. About 300 police personnel, including of the Superintendent of Police (SP) rank, took part in the march.

Khaira said the flag march began from local Police Lines and after passing through the GT road and all main streets and roads of the town, it culminated at the Police Lines.

The police force, according to the SSP, has been deployed in all sensitive areas of the town including bus stands, railway station, and chowk sheikan.