Security has been beefed up in and around the Golden Temple Complex after DGP (intelligence) Dinkar Gupta wrote a letter to Amritsar police commissioner SS Srivastava to strengthen the arrangements, saying that a bomb threat had been received.

“Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Kirpal Singh Badungar called up ADGP (security) and informed him that Talwinder Singh Buttar, press reporter at Anandpur Sahib had called him. Talwinder quoted a call that he had received about a bomb being placed at Sri Darbar Sahib .... it was also mentioned that bombs could also be placed in gurdwaras in Punjab subsequently... you are advised to immediately review and strengthen security arrangements at Golden Temple,” the DGP’s letter says.

Indicating that the letter had been taken seriously, a visit to the Golden Temple on Wednesday showed that the number of security personnel deployed had been increased. In fact, police sources said that a search operation had also been launched around the complex. No pilgrim is being allowed to pass without getting his bags checked.

Meanwhile, Amritsar police commissioner categorically ruled out that there was any threat to the Golden Temple or the city. Sources with the state police said that the intelligence wing of the department had started an inquiry to trace the original caller who spread the hoax.