Over 2,000 personnel of Punjab Police and para-military BSF and CRPF have been deployed in Gurdaspur to prevent any untoward incident during the ‘bhog’ ceremony of Jaspal Singh (18), who was killed in police firing during a bandh in the town on March 29, at Chor Sidhwan village, 7km from here on
Saturday.
Gurdaspur SSP Surinder Kumar Kalia maintained on Friday that police would not prevent the people from attending the religious ceremony but would not allow anyone to disturb peace.
Security had been beefed up at all chowks and entry points in Gurdaspur town and police would do its best to instill a sense of security among the locals, the SSP said and claimed that there was no call from any organisation to observe a ‘bandh’ in Gurdaspur on April 7.
Meanwhile, most private schools of Gurdaspur have already announced a holiday for students and staff on Saturday as a precautionary measure. Many local shopkeepers too would prefer to keep shops shut to avoid any unsavoury incident.
Meanwhile, a large number of people from the district and other parts of the state are expected to attend the ‘bhog’ ceremony. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, Damdami Taksal chief Bhai Harnam Singh Dhumma, leaders of various factions of All India Sikh Students Federation, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann and representatives of several Sikh organisations are likely to attend the religious function.
Family sources asserted that they would keep the function a simple affair and that no political leaders would be allowed to make speeches during the function. Only Giani Gurbachan Singh will deliver a speech to pay homage to the deceased who has been declared a ‘Sikh martyr’ by the Akal Takht.
News Source: H Times
