Punjab issues terror alert as Jammu boils over removal of Khalistan votary's posters

JAMMU: The Punjab government on Friday issued a terror alert and beefed up security across the state as violent protests against removal of Khalistan votary Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale's posters from a Sikh-dominated locality in Jammu continued for the third day on Friday.

Officials said 25 paramilitary companies were deployed across Punjab a day before the 31st anniversary of the Operation Bluestar in which Bhindranwale was killed along with his supporters holed up in Amritsar's Golden Temple.

In Jammu, Sikh protesters defied prohibitory orders and blocked key Jammu-Pathankot highway by burning tyres at separate places.

The protests had escalated a day earlier after 24-year-old Jagjit Singh was killed and seven others were wounded when police fired to quell a Sikh mob. They continued on Friday even as an FIR was registered against constable Mukesh Saini for killing the youth. The deceased youth's family agreed to have a postmortem conducted on his body only after the FIR was registered. Protestors raised proPakistan and pro-Khalistan slogans outside the government medical college and hospital in Jammu when the postmortem was being conducted.

Sources said another police constable was stabbed and his AK-47 rifle was snatched during mob violence at Digiana on Friday.