Punjab on high alert, Dera deadline expires today

Sangrur, May 27 (UNI) Security forces in Punjab and adjoining Haryana are on high alert with the deadline set by the Sikh high priests for closure of all Sacha Sauda 'deras' in Punjab ending today.

Attempts to bring a rapprochement between the two groups have hit a roadblock with the Akal Takht and various other Sikh clergy organisations reiterating that they would settle for nothing short of an apology by Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for his blasphemous imitation of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.

A thick security blanket has been thrown across the state to maintain law and order. Around 90,000 security force personnel are on duty and security arrangements have been strengthened around all Dera centres, including its headquarters and important Sikh gurdwaras like the Golden Temple at Amritsar.

Urging the community to exercise restraint, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, while talking to UNI, said ''We will wait till midnight and thereafter decide accordingly.'' Asked about the May 31 extension sought by the 'Sarv Dharam' (all religion) delegation for ending the Sikh-Sacha Sauda deadlock, the Jathedar pointed out ''there is still time''. He indicated that if a peace proposal comes before the highest temporal seat of Sikhs it would be considered at a meeting of the Five Sikh High priests.

The Akal Takht had rejected the 'regret' offered by Ram Raheem for imitating Guru Gobind Singh during a ceremony at Salabatpur in Bathinda district early this month. This had led to clashes between Sacha Sauda supporters and members of various Sikh religious organisations at Bathinda on May 14 and later an Akal Takht-sponsored statewide bandh was observed on May 22.

A police spokesman at Chandigarh said the state police force and para military force (PMF) personnel were on high alert in Punjab, particularly in the Malwa belt which has a sizeable number of Sacha Sauda followers. PMF personnel conducted flag marches at Amritsar, Sangrur, Bathinda, Moga, Manda, Muktsar and a few other places in the state.

The spokesman said the Salbatapura 'dera' which is the main Sacha Sauda center in Punjab had been cordoned off with the security force personnel setting up barricades all around the 'dera'. There are believed to be around 2000 odd Sacha Sauda members inside the center.

Adequate security arrangements have also been made at all other 'deras' of the sect in the state and important functionaries of the Dera had been provided security at their homes. The security at important gurdwaras in the state, including the Golden Temple had been further strenghthened.

The police in certain parts of the Malwa belt had confiscated a large number of weapons as a precautionary measure. Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and DGP N P S Aulakh are constantly monitoring the situation. Around 90,000 security force personnel are on duty to maintain peace and communal harmony.

According to a report from Sirsa, the security at the Dera headquarters had also been strengthened in view of the deadline expiring today. District administration officials reviewed the security arrangments at the 'dera' where a large number of people had gathered.

MORE UNI