Police have strengthened security around the Golden Temple to ensure nothing untoward happens on the 32nd anniversary of Operation Bluestar on Monday.
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Almost 8,000 police personnel, besides six companies of paramilitary forces, have reportedly been camping in Amritsar for a week to maintain law and order situation ahead of the anniversary.
Radical Sikh organization Dal Khalsa has called for an “Amritsar Bandh” on Monday.
Following the detention of several hardliners on Saturday, 10 more were detained Sunday. Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar also appealed to all sections to exercise restraint and observe the anniversary peacefully.
Several people, including security personnel, died during “Operation Bluestar”, when the Army had to be called in at Amritsar’s Golden Temple complex in June 1984 to flush out armed militants.
Also, many Sikhs are upset with SGPC and the state government over their inability to crack the main case of desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib at Bargari village in Faridkot previous year.
Prayers were held at the Akal Takht inside the Golden Temple complex on Sunday.
On June 6 past year, five youths were injured in a clash inside the Golden Temple when people had gathered there to mark the anniversary of Operation Bluestar.
“Media persons will be expected to do their work in a disciplined manner-SGPC Pres on 6th June event at Golden temple”, he added. Reacting to media gag orders, Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh said, “This is a condemnable and reproachable act by the Badal-run and backed SGPC”.
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Harcharan Singh the Chief secretary had requested the Deputy Commissioner of Amritsar to bar the media men saying that their presence may hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs.
