Stringent security arrangements in view of Bandh tomorrow

Hoshiarpur, Oct 23 (UNI) The district administration today succeeded in defusing the tense situation in view of the deadline given by the Bahujan Samaj Party for installing the idols of Guru Ravi Dass and Maharishi Balmiki in the disputed Dera Fattu Shah Bibi Sahiban Temple and Shri Sanatan Dharam Surksha Samiti's simultaneous call for a bandh.

After four-hour-long negotiation with the leaders of BSP including their state Chief Avtar Singh Karimpuri, the BSP was pursuaded by the administration to postpone its programme of installation of idols in the Dera complex in Rahimpur.

Later, in joint a press conference here this evening, DIG Jalandhar Range Narinder Pal Singh, Deputy Commissioner D. K.

Tiwari and SSP Anita Punj Mr Karimpuri said that BSP had postponed the installation of idols at the Dera complex in view of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal ordering a judicial inquiry into the entire episode of the Dera ownership.

DIG Singh said that all the related cases to the Dera would be revived and none of the innocent person would be arrested.

Referring to the proposed bandh call for tomorrow, given by Shri Sanatan Dharam Surksha Samiti, Hoshiarpur, D C Mr Tiwari said that the district administration would not allow anyone to force shopkeepers for observing bandh.

Meanwhile, the entire city has been converted into a cantonment. Heavy police force requisitioned from all over the state has been deployed to maintain law and order in and around the city.

As many as 10 SPs, 26 DSPs and 30 Inspectors, 4000 head constables and constables, 400 women constables, 20 mounted policemen, 3 Vajra vehicles, 3 water-cannon, tear gas squad, anti-riot squad and a large number of fire fighting engines and ambulances had been deployed throughout the city to avert any mishap, official sources said.

UNI