Fearing agitation,state asks Centre for backup

“The Centre has agreed through a verbal communication,” said a senior government official.

Sources said,interacting with the Senior Superintendents of Police Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal directed that the law and order situation should be maintained and there should be no disruption in the road and rail transport. The Punjab Police have also withdrawn many of it’s personnel attached with VVIPs as gunmen.

He asked DGP P S Gill to regularly hold meetings of the SSPs to keep a tab on the law and order situation in the state. He suggested to intensify the patrolling especially at night to instill confidence among the public and stressed on the need to keep a strict vigil during day.

Also,thikri pehras or community policing will be encouraged to protect the transmission lines. Control rooms in all districts will be set up to monitor the situation from close quarters. Vital installations and generation centres will be under police protection to ensure there is no disruption.

A watch is being kept on the activities of the BKU (Ugraha) group,which is scheduled to meet on April 12,and other employees’ organisations. Highly placed sources said the government was also contemplating to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in case the situation went out of hand.

“To increase public awareness,committees will be formed at district and sub-division level. The employees and people will be explained that this is not privatisation of the Board,and no employee will be fired. The formation of two companies from the PSEB is being done to improve the financial health of the Board,” said an officer.