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- December 6, 2009 - 0 comments
Curfew was imposed in the town on Sunday following the clashes between Sikh protesters and police. One person was killed and around 15 injured when police opened fire.
The police had to hurl tear smoke shells to suppress the Sikh protesters who were trying to interrupt the Satsang--the religious discourse--of a sectarian leader Ashutosh Maharaj of Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan.
What led to the clashes
The district administration and police were not surprised by the developments as the momentum for the clashes had been building up for quite some time now. The anger, which had been simmering for months, spilled over on Friday.
The city had been seeing huge hoardings of self-styled Ashutosh Maharaj for almost a fortnight. The Sikh groups opposed the godman and the religious discourse scheduled for Sunday. Finally, amid allegations by protesters that Ashutosh Maharaj was making statements which went against Sikh religion and its gurus, protests and clashes broke out. The organizers then cancelled the religious discourse scheduled for Sunday.
The police lodged two FIRs against miscreants for creating disturbance and also for preventing the policemen in performing their duty. They were also charged with rioting and refusing to listen to their law and order requests.
Including the Delhi-Ludhiana national highway, the traffic was disrupted on various roads, and a number of vehicles, including those of the police, were damaged by the marching protesters.
Present curfew situation
The curfew, which was earlier relaxed in certain parts of the city in the morning, was again imposed in more areas by the afternoon. By evening, as more incidents of mob fury were reported, the curfew was imposed all over the city after incidents of mob fury were reported in areas like Sabzi Mandi and Field Ganj.
At the time of filing of the report, radical Sikh leaders along with a group of locals were sitting on a dharna near Samrala Chowk, demanding an FIR against Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, MLA Harish Bedi and Ashutosh Maharaj.
Forces deployed, probe ordered
Now paramilitary forces and police have been deployed in the city, and people have been asked to stay indoors by the police.
The chief minister of the state has appealed the people to maintain peace, and cooperate with the government.
In order to maintain the law and order in the city, Rapid Action Force from Jalandhar was also called. A probe has been ordered into the death of a protester.
