Security arrangements for Feb 13 elections in place: DGP

Hoshiarpur, Feb 1 (UNI) Punjab Director General of Police R S Gill today said the security arrangements for conducting fair, free and peaceful state assembly elections on February 13 have been made.

While talking to media persons at the Police Recruits Training Centre, Jahan Khelan near here, the DGP said more than 80 per cent of the 72,000 Punjab Police personnel have been deputed and 200 companies of para military forces have arrived in the state for the election duty.

He said that as many as 10 segments of the state assembly have been identified as most sensitive where special security arrangements have been made to avert any untoward incident. Special police patrolling teams have been deputed to maintain law and order during election process and to avoid repetition of violence like Beas incident, he added.

He appealed to all the political parties and candidates contesting the elections to remain calm and peaceful and provide help to the police in maintaining law and order during the poll process.

Replying to a question, Mr Gill said that thorough investigation into the Beas firing incident was being done by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of police officials.

The mob was involved during the violence and the real culprits responsible for this incident are yet to be ascertained. Fire arms seized and compact discs clippings provided to the police were being examined, he said.

He hoped that the SIT would complete the investigation and submit its report shortly. After studying the report, the real culprits responsible for the incident would be booked.

He said that no innocent person would falsely be implicated and no one involved in the incident would go scot-free.

UNI