Maghi Mela: Muktsar turns fortress ahead of Maghi rallies; 6,000 cops deployed | 100 high-resolution CCTV cameras installed | Parties review arrangements

Muktsar turns fortress ahead of Maghi rallies

6,000 cops deployed | 100 high-resolution CCTV cameras installed | Parties review arrangements

Keep shops shut, traders told

• Muktsar: In view of the Maghi Mela political rallies, the police on Tuesday told all traders on Bank Road here to shut down their shops for the next two days. This road is located in the heart of the town. This move has irked the shopkeepers. “We wait for the Maghi Mela for a whole year, expecting to make lots of money. Instead of asking us to close our shops, the police should tighten security,” the traders said.

Call from Kejriwal

• Faridkot: Two days before the rallies at Maghi Mela, thousands of local residents on Tuesday received a phone call from Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. In the recorded clip, Kejriwal invites people to the party’s rally.

Policemen search a vehicle on the Muktsar-Bathinda road in Muktsar on Tuesday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, January 12

In the light of the Pathankot terror attack, the state police have converted Muktsar town into a fortress ahead of the Maghi Mela rallies to be held here on January 14. Nearly 6,000 police personnel have been deployed in the town and 100 high resolution CCTV cameras set up.

Muktsar SSP Kudeep Chahal said, “Along with the Muktsar police, nearly 3,800 policemen from other districts will be deployed in the town. We have also installed nearly 100 high resolution cameras at different locations.”

The police have set up a control room at the Government Girls’ Senior Secondary School on Bathinda Road here. Meanwhile, all policemen have been told that no leave would be sanctioned in the next two days.

JK Jain, IGP, Bathinda zone, and Ranbir Singh Khatra, DIG, Bathinda range, today visited the rally sites and reviewed the security arrangements.

“Every policeman has been briefed about his duties. Besides, we appeal to the public to cooperate with the police and not touch any abandoned object. In case of any doubt, they must inform the police,” said the SSP.

At the sites, the police noted down the names and addresses of all workers setting up the tents of political parties. Meanwhile, leaders of AAP and SAD visited their respective rally venues to take stock of the situation.

SAD Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal reached the rally site on Muktsar-Malout road in Rupana village and directed SAD’s Muktsar district president Dyal Kolianwali to increase the pandal size. The SAD had earlier set up a pandal with an area of 400x800 square feet.

“I have told party leaders to increase the pandal size. Our pandal will be the biggest,” said Sukhbir. Later, Sukhbir met JK Jain, IGP, Bathinda zone, at the venue.

On the other hand, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said, “This is a political rally and not a competition. Every year, all political parties organise rallies on this day.”

Sanjay Singh, AAP’s Punjab affairs in charge, state convener Sucha Singh Chhotepur also reviewed the arrangements at the party’s rally venue on Bathinda road here.

Former MLA Sukhpal Khaira held meetings in villages to mobilise people for the party’s rally. AAP’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal will visit Muktsar for the first time to attend the Maghi Mela rally. Last year, the main speakers at AAP’s rally were Bhagwant Mann, Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Faridkot MP Prof Sadhu Singh.

PCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh will arrive here on Wednesday, a day before the rally. He will stay at local MLA Karan Kaur Brar’s house in Sarainaga village. The party’s pandal size is 400x1200 square feet. Barnala MLA Kewal Dhillon, who is party’s Maghi Mela in charge, said, “Party workers are upbeat. We will have a massive crowd at the rally.”

Courtesy: The Tribune