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Prohibitory orders enforced in Amritsar district

Prohibitory orders have been promulgated in Amritsar district after some political groups decided to observe the fifteenth anniversary of Operation Bluestar on June 6 as ghallughara diwas (genocide day).

District Magistrate Narinderjit Singh said political demonstrations, rallies, and assembly of five or more persons at any place stood banned till July 13.

Carrying of firearms and weapons by civilians too has been banned till July 3.

The district magistrate said the step had been taken in view of plans by some politicians to hold demonstrations and rallies in the district that could arouse public sentiment.

Such actions, he said, could endanger human life and safety and public peace.

The ban order, however, will not apply to religious congregations, meetings, processions, funeral processions and marriage parties.

Various Akali factions had announced plans to observe the anniversary in Amritsar on June 6. The Akali Dal (Amritsar), led by Simranjit Singh Mann, has chosen its head office in the sarai (rest house) area of the Golden Temple complex as the venue to observe the anniversary.

Former Shiromani Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee president Gurcharan Singh Tohra's faction has decided to hold a parallel function outside Gurdwara Shaheeda in Amritsar. The SGPC plans to hold a religious function to mark the anniversary at the Akal Takht.

The Khalsa Action Committee, a human rights organisation, has decided to observe the anniversary at the local Khalsa College after the SGPC denied it permission to hold the function at the Akal Takht.

The SGPC has already made it clear that no political party or group will be permitted to hold any function at the Akal Takht on June 6.

The district magistrate said section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code would not be enforced at the Akal Takht though the other three venues fall under the purview of the ban order.

UNI

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