Bathinda 16 Jan 2015 :High alert has been sounded in Bathinda and adjoining areas in Punjab and security forces deployed in the wake of growing tension between members of Sikh organisations and Dera followers over the issue of proposed screening of controversial film ‘Messenger of God’
IG, Bathinda Zone, Paramraj Singh has confirmed high alert has been declared in Bathinda and adjoining areas.
He said ten companies from armoured forces and six companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed, besides the state police, to maintain law and order.
“We have almost 12,000-13,000 numbers of security officials from the state police, armoured and paramilitary forces to maintain peace,” he said.
Bathinda zone covers several districts including Bathinda, Muktsar, Mansa, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Moga. A large number of Dera followers belong to these districts.
“Our focus from point of maintaining law and order will be on five districts which are Moga, Faridkot, Mansa, Bathinda and Ferozepur,” he said.
Around 15,000 Dera followers from Bhatinda range went to Gurgaon in Haryana today for movie’s premier show and Punjab Police provided security to them within the state, he said.
On Thursday, Punjab police had even carried out a flag march in Bathinda.
Various Sikh organisations, including the Sri Akal Takht Sahib have demanded a ban on the movie in which Dera head has the lead role.
A few clashes between Sikh followers and Dera followers were reported in Moga district last month over the posters of the movie.
In December, tension had gripped the Baghapurana town of Moga district when Dera followers objected to the tearing of posters of the movie at few places in the town and they again started pasting the posters.
Police had even resorted to firing in the air to disperse members of the two warring factions after stone pelting following the strong objection raised by Sikhs over the pasting of posters.
Cinemas in Bathinda have reportedly expressed reluctance in showing the MSG movie to prevent any damage to their property because of possible clashes.