Jalandhar: Security agencies are on high alert after bomb threats were received for Dera Sachkhand Ballan and two local schools ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Jalandhar on February 1 for Guru Ravidas Jayanti. According to reports, the threats, delivered via email, explicitly named the prominent dera as a target and referred to Khalistani grievances against PM Modi, including accusations over the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, repeating “Badla, Badla, Badla” (revenge) multiple times.
Jalandhar Police and bomb disposal squads swiftly responded, conducting thorough searches at Urban Estate School and another facility, evacuating premises despite prior holidays for the festival procession, the reports said. No explosives were found, but investigations trace the email’s origin, suspecting disruption motives linked to the dera’s massive Dalit following and PM’s anticipated address post-Budget session. A no-fly zone blankets Jalandhar from January 30 to February 1, banning civilian drones except for VVIP aircraft, while traffic diversions block Nakodar Road for the January 31 shobha yatra from Boota Mandi Gurudwara, reports said.
Authorities link the threats to recent patterns, with 10-11 Jalandhar schools receiving similar hoax emails in days prior, amid Punjab’s tense security landscape. Dera Ballan, a spiritual hub for millions, draws PM Modi’s visit to honour Sant Ravidas, amplifying its political weight in AAP-ruled Punjab ahead of local polls. Reports said CRPF, NSG, and Punjab Police personnel have been deployed scanning rally routes and the dera complex.
