To ensure that no untoward incident took place or anyone faces any hardship during a protest organised by Haryana-based Indian National lok Dal (INlD) on Monday, the Punjab Police deployed heavy forces at the inter-State borders with Haryana.
At almost all the five borders, the traffic was diverted to other alternative routes, while the Delhi and Haryana bound buses of Punjab Government owned Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) and Punjab Roadways remained off road. The private buses were diverted for Ambala.
“There was heavy police deployed at Punjab-Haryana borders. The senior officers personally reviewed the security arrangements,” a senior police official told The Pioneer, adding that the protest remained peaceful.
Protesting on the issue of Satluj Yamuna link (SYl) canal, the INlD had given a call to halt all the Punjab vehicles from entering Haryana on Monday from 9 am to 3 pm.
“Earlier in the day, the police ensured that no traffic is halted on the national highway. The senior officials were there at Shambhu Barrier and vehicles from Punjab were crossing Shambhu barrier smoothly till 9:30 am,” said the official.
The Patiala District Magistrate has ordered imposition of Section 144 to ensure the arrest of INlD workers in case they enter Punjab side at Shambhu.
“Anti-riot vehicles were also stationed near Rajpura. There were clear instructions to the officials that anyone crossing over into Punjab from Shambhu will be arrested,” said the official.
It was only around 10 am that the police has to divert the traffic to alternative routes.
While at Shambhu border, the traffic from Punjab side was diverted near Rajpura, the vehicular traffic from Chandigarh towards Ambala was diverted at Dera Bassi and lalru towards Saha. The traffic from Bathinda was diverted through Samana.