The two low-intensity IED explosions near the Golden Temple in Amritsar, less than 30 hours apart, ahead of the Jalandhar Lok Sabha bypoll, has prompted the Punjab Police to put the security apparatus in the state on high alert. According to Special Director General of Police (Law and Order), Arpit Shukla, commissioners of police and senior superintendents of police have been directed to install special "nakas" (checkpoints) and enhance patrolling across the state to keep a vigil on anti-social elements in their respective jurisdictions. "Similarly, SSPs of border districts have been asked to seal the borders by installing inter-state nakas and not to let anyone enter the state without thorough checking and frisking," he added. Shukla said that apart from enhancing patrolling, the Punjab Police personnel, along with paramilitary forces, have been carrying out regular flag marches, especially in the vulnerable areas, as part of confidence-building measures. The security would be beefed up further, he added. The twin explosions on the heritage street in Amritsar, barely few metres away from each other, have caused concern among the security hierarchy. While the quality of the explosive devices was poor and lacked sophistication, yet the messaging being done through such actions is being analysed. Senior police officials disclosed that apart from attempts to disturb the harmony of the state ahead of the Jalandhar bypoll, the blasts could also be a feeble reaction to the murder of Khalistan Commando Force (KCF) chief Paramjit Singh Panjwar in Lahore on Saturday. “Nothing can be ruled out at this stage. Panjwar was killed on Saturday, the day the first blast took place. So that angle too cannot be ruled out,” said a senior officer who did not want to be named. Interacting with mediapersons in Amritsar, DGP Gaurav Yadav emphasised that the law and order situation in the state was perfectly in control and that they were investigating all leads regarding the two explosions. Police sources informed that since both the explosions had taken place in the parking complex area, the CCTV footage and mobile data dump of the surrounding areas were being analysed for clues. The first explosion on May 6 had been incorrectly attributed to a ‘chimney blast’ in a nearby restaurant and the seriousness of the incident was downplayed. Amritsar's Commissioner of Police, Naunihal Singh, Monday told media persons that the characteristics of the two explosions were similar. “It had been wrongly assumed that a blast took place in the chimney. This was a rumour or a misunderstanding among people because that night there had been a storm and it was thought that the pressure may have dropped leading to shattering of windows,” he said. Meanwhile, amid an ongoing special campaign after the implementation of the Code of Conduct on March 29, Jalandhar Rural police successfully arresting 44 proclaimed offenders (POs). The police had also launched an extensive statewide drive aimed at curbing the sale of illicit liquor and keeping vigil on hooch manufacturers. As many as 306 police teams raided 813 premises of 775 persons, who were found involved in three cases under the Excise Act in the last two years. The Police teams had also recovered 1470 kg lahan (raw material used to make liquor), 50 litres of illicit liquor, 403 bottles of illicit liquor and 70 grams of heroin after registering 22 first information reports (FIRs) across the state. Meanwhile, campaigning for the high-stakes Jalandhar bypoll ended Monday evening. Polling will take place from 8 am to 6 pm on May 10, while the counting of votes will be held on May 13.
