Paramilitary forces deployed in four Punjab districts

Chandigarh, October 20: With the district administration and Punjab Police failing to end protests and roadblocks by people angry over the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, para-military troopers were deployed on Tuesday in the state’s four districts worst affected by the ongoing agitation. Border Security Force (BSF) troopers were deployed at various places in Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhia and Bathinda districts. The BSF has been deployed in some places in the border district of Tarn Taran. With the BSF deployment, roadblocks at some places, including Jalandhar, Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts, were removed and traffic was restored.

Motorists had to face inconvenience across Punjab in the past week due to the roadblocks at multiple locations. Home Minister Rajth Singh spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Tuesday regarding the ongoing agitation in the state. The Punjab government has sought 25 companies of paramilitary forces from the central government to contain the ongoing protests since October 12. Tension continued to prevail across the state. The protesters are demanding action against those who desecrated the Sikh holy book. The Punjab Police had arrested a granthi (preacher) in Amritsar and a woman in Ludhia district for the desecration of the holy book. Tension prevailed in Gurusar village of Bathinda district on Tuesday when, in a fresh incident, torn pages of the Guru Granth Sahib were found. (IANS)