Amid threat from radicals, Punjab on high alert for Diwali

The Punjab Police have been put on high alert for the Diwali festival following intelligence inputs that Sikh hardliners were out to foment trouble in the border state.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Monday directed the police to remain on high alert following recent attempts by hardliners, backed by separatist forces in Punjab and other countries, to create trouble in the state.

The Chief Minister reviewed the security situation at a high-level meeting attended by senior officers, including Director General of Police (DGP) Suresh Arora.

The DGP shared details of the inputs and developments concerning the state, received from various sources. He also briefed the Chief Minister about the busting of a terrorist module of the Ansar Ghazwat Ul Hind (AGH) by the state police on November 3.

The Chief Minister directed the officials to ensure fool-proof security at all vital installations and other key places, such as crowded markets and religious shrines.

"He asked the DGP to pull out all men for maintaining the highest level of security during the celebrations," a spokesperson for the chief minister said.

"The Chief Minister further ordered the DGP to crack down on, and to take immediate action against, anyone found trying to create trouble in any way," the spokesperson added.

--IANS

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