Intel agencies raise alarm over Punjab situation
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Punjab Chief Minister Charanjith Singh Channi with Deputy CM Randhawa at Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday (Image Credit: Rana Simranjit Singh via Indian Express)
A senior intelligence officer has claimed that the situation in Punjab may be even more fragile than Kashmir following communalised incidents of lynching and attempted sacrilege as well as a bombing in Ludhiana, which could set the stage for further terror attacks ahead of assembly elections, an NDTV report has claimed.
"We held a meeting with state intelligence officers and issued a warning to them regarding terror activities in the state. We have asked them to keep a close watch on social media to keep tapping on any rumour-mongering. At present, Punjab is more fragile than Kashmir," the officer was quoted as saying.
Central intelligence agencies were coordinating with state security forces in order to keep tabs on the situation and raise the alet if any untoward incident were to occur, the officer said. In particular, the security forces were keeping an eye on drones crossing the border from Punjab which were suspected of dropping bombs and arms for use in destabilising law and order, he claimed.
On December 20, a drone was sighted in the Gurdaspur sector of Punjab near the international border. BSF personnel fired five rounds but it manages to return inside Pakistan territory.
Ounjab is in a state of tension following the lynching of two unidentified youths who attempted to blaspheme two holy Sikh relics; one tried to grab the holy sword kept in front of the Guru Granth Sahib at the sanctum of the Golden Temple in Amritsar while the other youth was cut down in the village of Kaparthala after he allegedly desecrated the holy Sikh flag.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh was one of the few to openly condemn the brutal lynchings, saying that there was "no justification" for mob justice. The bulk of Punjab's political leaders remained silent or demanded punishment for sacrilege, fearing backlash from the majority Sikh population.
Abomb blast was also reported from a court complex in Ludhiana which has put security officials on high alert. One person was killed in the blast and many others injured, according to police reports.