Police on extra alert in Ganganagar; prohibitory order in force

Sriganganagar, May 17(UNI) The police has been put on extra alert in the district following the edict by five Sikh high priests for total social boycott of the Dera Sacha Sauda, even as the prohibitory order under section 144 of the criminal procedure code (CrPC) is in force in entire district since last evening.

A meeting of the district administration and police officers was held to review the law and order situation in the district, soon after the Sikh high priests' meeting at Talwandi Sabo which passed the edict against the Dera this afternoon. Divisional Commissioner Lalit Mehra, Police Inspector General(Bikaner) Laxman Meena and other high officials participated in the meeting.

District Collector B S Detha said as many as 27 executive magistrates had been deployed in the district to monitor the law and order situation.

He said the district administration is in constant touch with prominent leaders of both the sects. SP Vinita Thakur, who was in Hyderabad on official work, has been called back and reached Ganganagar late last night. Inspector General Laxman Meena and Divisional Commissioner Lalit Mehra are already in Ganganagar.

Security has been tightened in Dera camps after the report of Divisional Commissioner was sent to the state government. Suratgarh police station incharge Dalpat Singh Bhati said police is keeping a close watch on Premiji's village Gurusar Mordia including his relatives and the village hospital being run by Dera followers.

Sub Divisional officers and tehsildars have been asked not to leave the headquarters till further orders.

State Agriculture Minister Surendrapal Singh Titi have also reached Ganganagar and are talking with people of both sects.

Meanwhile, Srikaranpur Bar Association are on a one-day strike today to protest Dera chief's imitating 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.

Trouble arose in Bhatinda in Punjab on Monday after a controversial advertisement appeared in some newspapers, showing the Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh alias Premiji in the attire of Guru Gobind Singh.

At least 30 people were injured in the clashes between Dera followers and Sikhs here.

UNI