CHANDIGARH: Punjab Director General of Police O.P. Sharma has ‘Said that the threat from Pakistan to disrupt the forthcoming Lok Sabha ‘lections was real and there was no ‘intention on the part of the government to politicize it.
Addressing a news conference after a high level meeting here, the DGP ‘denied that he was trying to create fear psychosis by cautioning about the threat from Pakistan. He maintained it was his duty to alert the people.
He said the security agencies had concrete reports that Pakistan was determined to disrupt the elections and the activities with this aim started from August 15last year. He said the Strategy was to revive the militant activity in Punjab and Delhi under a definite plan. As recruits were not available in Punjab, Pakistan had pushed in people, disguised and armed with explosives, “We will not allow them to succeed,” he said.
He said a force of more than a lakh would supervise the elections and there was no need to deploy the Amy, as the state police was competent to handle any situation. This force includes 90,000 officials, policemen, special police officers and home guards from within the state. He said the services of about 10,000 home guards, who are not presently active, have also been requisitioned.
Sharma said that the components of security and election arrangements would be area security, operations against criminals, security of candidates, security of polling stations and the polling parties.
Article extracted from this publication >> April 10, 1996
