Convoy Stopped Amid Tight Security
High drama unfolded in Moga on Thursday as local police intercepted and stopped the convoy of Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu. The minister was heading to the Moga Sadar Police Station following a low-intensity blast at the station complex on Wednesday.
Citing heightened security arrangements, police erected heavy barricades on the Ludhiana-Moga road at the city's entrance, blocking the route. A heavy police deployment restricted the movement of the minister's convoy, leading to a tense standoff. A heated and prolonged exchange ensued between Bittu, his aides, and DSP Jatinder Singh Gill, who was on duty.
Barricades Removed After Exchange
After an extended discussion during which the minister strongly questioned the police action, the authorities eventually removed the barricades and allowed the convoy to proceed to the police station. According to DSP Gill, the heavy deployment and movement restrictions were part of heightened security measures put in place after the blast.
According to official sources, unidentified bike-borne assailants allegedly hurled an explosive object, suspected to be a hand grenade, at the police station complex on the Moga-Ferozepur Highway before fleeing the spot. While the explosion triggered panic in the area, officials said there were no injuries or significant property damage. Special forensic teams and anti-sabotage units have cordoned off the police station to collect evidence, while investigators are scanning CCTV footage from the highway to identify the suspects.
Minister Criticizes Law and Order
Bittu said he had visited Moga to express concern over the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab, alleging that gangsters and extortionists were ruling the roost and that the police had failed to ensure the security of even their own establishments, citing repeated attacks on police stations in the state.
