Security has been jacked up across Jalandhar amidst the second leg of Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Bhagwant Mann’s Shukrana Yatra, which is scheduled to kickstart from his Baradari residence in Jalandhar on Thursday.
The CM will address people in Jalandhar on Thursday, regarding the recent anti-sacrilege law brought in by the state government, a day after twin blasts rocked Jalandhar and Amritsar on Tuesday night.
Stringent security measures have thus been put in place, as the district remains on high alert. Security personnel have also been deputed outside the CM’s residence.
Strict traffic checks and searches are being conducted, especially on the four roads which converge outside the BSF Headquarters in Jalandhar, where the recent blast took place.
As many as 200 to 300 security personnel were deputed in Phagwara during Mann’s address on Wednesday. Larger police deputations are expected to mark his upcoming Jalandhar address on Thursday.
Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav inspected the blast site on Wednesday morning along with Commissioner of Police Dhanpreet Kaur. Soon after his departure, the CP, accompanied by Deputy Commissioner Varjeet Walia and AAP Central Halka in-charge Nitin Kohli, reviewed the security arrangements at the Chief Minister’s residence and Varinder Singh Ghumman Park, from where the CM is scheduled to address the gathering on Thursday.
The trio reviewed aspects related to security arrangements, traffic control, stage preparation, public convenience and smooth arrangements for the event.
A stage has been set up at the park for party workers, with a seating arrangement for 1500 people (who will gather there before Mann’s arrival).
Sources in the AAP said that the party’s plans for the Jalandhar event underwent repeated reviews in view of the security situation.
Jalandhar Central Halka Incharge Nitin Kohli has been handed the key charge of organising arrangements at the Jalandhar Central.
Sources said while formerly, the event was to be a Jalandhar Central gathering, but as of now, all MLAs and leaders from the city have been invited at the venue.
Even as Jalandhar Central MLA Raman Arora (who recently received back his security) wasn’t a part of the team reviewing arrangements on Wednesday, it will be interesting to see whether he attends the event on Thursday.
The CM addressed gatherings at only five key locations during his Shukrana Yatra on Wednesday, but Thursday’s itinerary is expected to be far more packed, with around 16 stops planned across the state. Starting from his residence in Jalandhar Central, he will proceed to Adampur for his next address, before travelling to Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Zira, Faridkot and Kotkapura. The yatra is likely to continue till late evening on Thursday.
