The Punjab police on Friday claimed to have foiled recent attempts by fundamentalists, remnant terror groups and naxalites to spread violence in the State.
Talking to journalists here, Director-General of Police Sumesh Singh Saini cited inputs from the “highest quarters” and media reports that rump terrorists were trying to foment trouble.
Mr. Saini said the police handled the situation well, when fundamentalists organised three marches from Amritsar, Anandpur Sahib and Talwandi Sabo in March-April this year; a dispute broke out over a gurdwara in Amritsar district; and tensions flared when two sections faced off. The arrest of radical leader Daljeet Singh Bittu and the former militant, Kulbir Singh Barapind, he said, were part of the steps taken to prevent revival of terrorism. The police nabbed some naxal leaders and prevented a few from entering the State.
Mr. Saini denied that he was raising the issue of terrorism to divert attention from the recent incidents over which the police were criticised. While the death of ASI Ravinderpal Singh in a shootout in Amritsar and the assault on AIG S.S. Mand in Ludhiana were spontaneous incidents, the gang rape in Patiala leading to the suicide of the victim was a premeditated crime.
