The Centre has deployed 13 Central Reserve Police Force companies in Amritsar, The Times of India reported ahead of the Sikhs congregation Sarbat Khalsa. Around 18,000 Sikh are expected to come to Amritsar, including some radicals, to protest against the Akal Takht’s revoking a pardon on Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.The move to send in CRPF personnel came after intelligence suggested that religious groups might try to seek the removal of the Akal Takht head priest, replacing him and four other head priests.

Deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal rushed to Delhi for meetings while police chief Suresh Arora went to Amritsar to take stock of the situation. More than 5,000 non resident Indians are said to have flown in for the protest, which the Akali Dal and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee have objected to.