2 Dead, 70 Hurt in Clashes Over Holy Book 'Desecration

[EAK]

CHANDIGARH: Tension prevailed in parts of Punjab after two persons were killed and more than 70 others injured in police firing and clashes, as Sikh groups organised a protest over the alleged desecration of holy book Guru Granth Sahib. The protests at Behbal village of Kotkapura took an ugly turn as police resorted to lathicharge, used water cannons and fired in the air to disperse the agitators.

The area remained tense after more than 100 pages of the Guru Granth Sahib were found scattered in a street leading to a gurdwara in Bargari village in Faridkot district on Monday. The pages were allegedly torn from a bir (Guru Granth Sahib), stolen from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village. Police later took the torn pages to an undisclosed place.

As the police rounded up Sikh leaders Panthpreet Singh and Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwala, around 6,000 protestors gathered in the main square of Kotkapura, demanding action against those responsible for the incident of sacrilege. As the agitators, some of them pelting stones, refused to leave the place, the police used batons and water cannons and fired in the air to disperse the protestors. The protestors also tried to block highways leading to Moga and Bathinda.

Among those injured were Bathinda Range IGP Jatinder Jain, besides over two dozen police personnel. A strong police contingent has been deployed in Faridkot district to maintain law and order. The situation is tense, but under control.

Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal appealed to the people to maintain calm.

The Sant Samaj, led by Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhuma, has called for a shutdown in Malwa on Thursday, against the alleged desecration. Dhuma said the bandh was called to put pressure on the government. “Those responsible for the sacrilege of the scripture should be arrested immediately,” he added.

Sikh preachers Dhadrianwala, Panthpreet, former Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar Kewal Singh, Damdami Taksal Ajnala head Amrik Singh Ajnala and radical Sikh leader Baljit Singh Daduwal participated in the protest.

Punjab Congress chief Partap Singh Bajwa demanded imposition of President’s rule in the state saying the government had started letting loose reign of terror against the people after having failed on all fronts. Congress leader Capt Amarinder Singh said Parkash Singh Badal ha lost control over things.

2 Dead, 70 Hurt in Clashes Over Holy Book 'Desecration'