Gagandeep Sharma Bathinda, June 29 For security and confidential inputs received by the state police, the Punjab Government has decided to shift the 5th Commando Battalion from Bahadurgarh (Patiala) to Bathinda. The battalion will reach the district next week. The battalion was headquartered in Bahadurgarh Qila, a historical place in Patiala. The new office of the battalion will be situated in Police Lines, Bathinda. As per sources, the state government’s decision is based on intelligence reports submitted by officials of the Malwa zone. Followers of Dera Sacha Sauda and ‘Panthak’ organisations have been active in the region. The state government doesn’t want to take any risk and plans to requisite measures. As many as six senior officers of the state police will be deputed with this battalion along with a gazetted officer. The district police have started the process for the accommodation of these officers. The district had acquired VIP tag when Harsimrat Kaur Badal became Member of Parliament in 2009. Due to the visits by members of the Badal family, the police had made elaborate security arrangements till March 2017. Jaspreet Singh Sidhu is the Commandant of this battalion and he will also shift to Bathinda. SSP Naveen Singla confirmed that the battalion would be shifted here. “We have made arrangements for the office and accommodation of the personnel,” he added. “Three companies of battalion will be available every time in the district. We will use them to maintain law and order. Policemen of this battalion will be deputed for VIP duty in district,” the SSP said.

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