Bathinda, 03 September (H.S.): Two days ahead of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s proposed three-day visit to Bathinda, security has been tightened in the city after separate bomb threat emails were received by the Zila Parishad office and the District Courts Complex on Thursday.

Soon after the threatening emails were received, police and security agencies swung into action. As a precautionary measure, the library located inside the Zila Parishad complex was evacuated and a thorough search of the premises was carried out. Apart from the Zila Parishad office, the complex also houses a library, a bank and several shops. The District Courts Complex is located near the District Administrative Complex.

Bathinda SP (City) Aaswant Singh Dhaliwal said that two separate threatening emails had been received at the Zila Parishad office and the District Courts Complex. Police teams are carrying out anti-sabotage checks at both locations.

The development comes ahead of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s scheduled visit to Bathinda district from September 5 to 7. On September 5, the Chief Minister is scheduled to inaugurate the ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’ event at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Stadium. He is also scheduled to hold ‘Lok Milni’ programmes at Ghudda village on September 6 and Mehraj village on September 7.

Earlier, on August 26, the District Courts Complex and some educational institutions had also received bomb threat emails. Police teams conducted searches and later described those threats as hoaxes. However, security was stepped up at sensitive locations. Those emails had also contained a threat targeting the Chief Minister during his Bathinda visit on September 5.

On August 24, pro-Khalistan slogans glorifying Dilawar Singh, the assassin of former Chief Minister Beant Singh, were also found written at several locations in Bathinda district, including a government school. Police registered a case and heightened vigilance following the incident.

Police are currently investigating the latest threatening emails, while security arrangements have been strengthened at the concerned locations.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH