AMRITSAR, Punjab, India: The security ring around the Golden Temple was tightened with the deployment of additional C.R.P. Force on the eleven exits of the holiest shrine of the Sikhs at Amritsar and setting up of seven new pickets. The S.G.P.C. offices, inside the Golden Temple closed down around 11:30 a.m. on February 23 as a mark of protest against this deployment. Wild rumors started spreading in the Kar Sewa Camp thereafter. Fresh C.R.P.F. companies started arriving in the city.

According to the police sources, this additional deployment of the forces and setting up of new check posts was to check the alleged flow of arms into the temple and to stop the free movement of the freedom fighters.

But according to the S.G.P.C. sources, this new show of the force has created panic among the devotees. The senior police officials including additional Director General Police are personally supervising the arrangements around the Golden Temple.

Meanwhile, a C.R.P.F, Constable, a freedom fighter and two panchayat members were gunned down in separate incidents in the district.

Article extracted from this publication >> March 4, 1988