Curfew imposed after violent Sikh protests against Ashutosh Maharaj in Ludhiana continues
Ludhiana: Curfew was imposed in Ludhiana on Sunday following
violence by a large number of Sikhs protesting the holding of a public discourse by Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan leader Ashutosh Maharaj. Earlier on Saturday,
Sikh organizations had taken to streets to protest against the holding of a public
discourse by Ashutosh Maharaj, who has not found favour with Sikh groups for allegedly
preaching against their religion. One person had died and 15 were injured when
police opened fire and lobbed tear gas shells to control the protesters, who were
pelting stones, damaged public properties and tried to disrupt the religious discourse
of Maharaj. Streets remained deserted and paramilitary personnel patrolled the
streets in Punjab 's major industrial hub. The State police also roped in additional
paramilitary forces to keep the situation under control. “We have six companies
of CRPF and two more companies of BSF, they are arriving shortly. Two companies
of RAF (Rapid Action Force) are already available with us, they are already doing
flag marches in the city. Force has been deployed at various paces and situation
is so far peaceful,” said Sukhchain Singh Gill, Senior Superintendent of Police
(SSP), Ludhiana . Radical group leaders like Bhai Mohkam Singh, Convenor of Khalsa
Action Committee, Kanwarpal Singh Bittu of Dal Khalsa, Baljit Singh Daduwal, Ranjit
Singh and Jasbir Singh Rode were also among those who led the procession. Although
the conference was supposed to be held for two days on December 5 and 6, the violent
clashes prompted the district administration to cancel the permission granted
to hold the conference. Many Sikh organizations including the radical Dal Khalsa
said that the conference is backed by the State Government and the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP).
