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.