Pubdate: Thu, 06 May 2004
Source: Times of India, The (India)
Copyright: Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd. 2004
Contact:  http://www.timesofindia.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/453
Author: Ajay Bharadwaj

PUNJAB BORDER SEALED, PARA-MILITARY FORCES

FEROZEPUR:With five days to go for the final phase of the Lok Sabha 
elections, the entire Punjab border touching Haryana and Rajasthan has been 
sealed with the deployment of para-military forces.

About four companies of the security forces have been deployed in five Lok 
Sabha constituencies, Ferozepur, Faridkot, Bathinda, Sangrur and Patiala, 
bordering the two states to prevent the inflow of anti-social elements and 
smuggling of narcotics.

While the inter-state border along the Faridkot parliamentary constituency 
has been sealed following the Election Commission directive, in rest of the 
constituencies the police have taken this step as a precautionary measure.

The EC's order for special security in the Faridkot constituency has been 
made in the wake of reports of musclemen trooping in the area from 
neighbouring Sirsa district.

In view of the proximity of the families of SAD chief Parkash Singh Badal 
and Haryana chief minister Om Parkash Chautala, the Congress had expressed 
its apprehension about the Chautala's 'green brigade' being used by SAD 
nominee Sukhbir Badal to intimidate voters.

Besides, the smuggling of narcotics tend to pick up in these areas during 
the election period when political parties openly distribute items like 
poppy husk and opium among their workers and voters.

Located close to the Punjab border, Sriganganagar (Rajasthan) and Rania 
(Haryana) have been two major centres from where drugs are procured for 
smuggling. The Congress leaders in the region had shared their concern at 
the problem with chief minister Amarinder Singh. He subsequently directed 
the police to be vigilant against and deal with smugglers strictly.
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