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Sikh organisations protest against Dera chief
Tight security for meeting at Dayalpura
Bathinda, December 18Tight security for meeting at Dayalpura
The Bathinda police has stepped up security arrangements for a huge gathering planned by Sikh organisations at Dayalpura village in the district on December 21. The Akhand Path is beginning tomorrow at Dayalpura Bahika gurudwara Jafanama Sahib and to tighten security, around 700 police personnel have been called in from Mansa, Faridkot and Bathinda and put on duty.
According to sources, a senior police officer from issued orders to tighten the security as a huge gathering was expected at Dayalpura Bhaika village. Senior police officers conducted held a meeting in Bathinda and instructions were issued in this regard to all concerned. The sources stated that the intelligence wing has also alerted the police force in the city. Senior police officers were missing from their offices today as Sukhbir Badal was in the city and security arrangements about the panth meeting was being planned.
Policemen on administrative jobs have also been deployed. Sources said the gathering at Dayalpura Bhaika village was being planned to take a decision against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief. Every Sunday, thousands of Dera followers gather at Salabatpura, headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda in Punjab, near Dayalpura Bhaika village, and the police is fearing a clash between Dera followers and Sikh activists planning to gather there on Sunday.
Daljeet Singh Bittu of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) said, "The Akhand Path is starting tomorrow and the bhog is on December 21. We are expecting a huge gathering where a decision will be taken about how to tackle the Dera chief. He was supposed to be arrested but he is roaming freely and those who stage peaceful protests are being arrested.
“Lately, the Punjab government has allowed Dera gatherings to take place and Deras that were shut down, are being reopened. In Mansa, an agitation had taken place and the road there remained blocked from September 15 to September 27. The agitation was held to close down the Mansa dera. It was closed down but the government is threatening people who are protesting against Dera. The Mansa Dera was again opened after a month. Salabatpura is the place where the Dera chief had conducted the act of blasphemy on May 13 last year. This gathering is not by a particular political party or leaders. Leaders are involved but the decision to handle deras and its chief would be taken in front of the people."
Sources also stated that the whole area around Dayalpura Bhaika village has been barricaded. The SSP, Bathinda, stated that the police force was ready for every possibility and adequate force had been deployed. He did not elaborate and did not give a clear picture of the number of personnel deployed and steps taken to ensure security in the area.
