CHANDIGARH, Oct 17:
Roiled by desecration of their holy book, Sikhs continued to hold protest in several parts of Punjab blocking key roads, even as chief minister Parkash Singh Badal today sought to assuage the community saying divisive forces bent on disrupting the peace will be exposed.
The protest also spread to Jammu and Kashmir as Sikhs held protests in Srinagar and Jammu cities. In Jammu, a large number of Sikhs held the protest march.
Two fresh incidents of alleged desecration of Sikh holy book came to light yesterday in Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts, leading to tension in both areas.
In Punjab, the protesters blocked roads traffic at national and state highways at various places, crippling traffic movement and causing inconvenience to commuters and keeping security personnel on their toes to prevent any untoward incident.
Public transport was also hit because of the protest as people as well as private buses remained off the road at several parts.
Lahore-bound India-Pakistan international bus coming from New Delhi had to be diverted through Phillaur, Noormahal, Nakodar to Kartarpur in the wake of protest.
Facing ire from several quarters, Chief Minister Badal said the “fissiparous forces” which are “hell bent” upon destroying hard earned peace in the state would be exposed before the people.
During his visit to Golden Temple in Amritsar, Badal called upon people to uphold the ethos of peace and brotherhood in the state, asserting the state government was committed to thwart any such attempt which could pose a danger to the progress and prosperity of the State.
The protests were held at various places including Moga, Bathinda, Amritsar, Tarn Taran, Ferozep and Phagwara.
In Moga, protesters blocked road traffic at Moga-Barnala Road, Moga-Ludhiana national highway, Moga -Kotkapura, Moga-Ferozepur and Moga-Amritsar.
Shops and commercial establishments also remained closed at a few places in the State while a large number of youths could be seen requesting shop owners to shut down their shutters.
On October 14, two persons were killed in alleged police action during protest over the issue.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Amarinder Singh today asked the Punjab CM to resign, while seeking imposition of President’s rule, in the wake of “complete collapse” of law and order besides social and economic unrest in the State.
“The way things are going on right now, we will be heading for anarchy,” he told reporters after visiting the families of those killed in police firing in Faridkot.
Protesters were demanding action against police officials for the killing of two men on October 14 and arrest of those behind the alleged desecration of the holy book.
At Budhsinghwala village in Moga, protesters put up posters banning the entry of SAD, AAP and Congress politicians.
About two dozen members of Dharam Parchar Committee held urgent meeting at Bargari village of Faridkot district and strongly condemned the police action.
They said no politician of Congress and SAD will be allowed to join their protests.
It was also decided that road blocks would be stopped from Sunday in the state while demonstration will be held in front of district complexes across the state from 10 am to 1 PM.
There were also reports of similar protests taking place in Kotkapura and Muktsar.
A report from Phagwara said a group of Sikh activists blocked the national highway for seven hours here in protest against two fresh incidents of alleged desecration of holy book in Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts.
Around 30 protesters assembled near the Phagwara sugar mill this morning and sat in the middle of the Amritsar-Delhi National Highway, leading to a huge traffic blockade.
The highway is also used by vehicles bound for Jammu from Delhi, police said.
The protesters were joined by former head priest of Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib Bhai Ranjodh Singh and Punjab Congress General Secretary Joginder Singh Mann.
The commuters had a harrowing time as vehicles got stuck on Phagwara-Jalandhar and Phagwara-Hoshiarpur highway, even as the police was busy diverting the traffic to alternate routes.
Even a military convoy was not allowed to pass. They had to take detour via Satnampura-Jandiala road. Only ambulances were allowed to pass through.
Blockade was lifted only after SDM assured the protesters to arrange their meeting with Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner tomorrow evening.
Police force, led by SP Ashwani Kumar, remained present at the site.
Meanwhile, when contacted, Phagwara DSP Manpreet Singh Dhillon said that Lahore-bound India-Pakistan international bus coming from New Delhi had to be diverted through Phillaur, Noormahal, Nakodar to Kartarpur for its onward journey to Pakistan.
However, he said that the information about the route of Delhi-bound bus coming from Lahore was not available.
In Ludhiana, Sikh protesters blocked traffic at old Octroi post on Ludhiana -Ferozepur road, Rai Kot, Sahnewal , Mulanpur-Dakha.
A candle march was also organised by Students Organistaion of India to maintain peace and tranquility.
All the main roads leading to the Bathinda city remained blocked, causing inconvenience to commuters.
The roads which were affected because of protest were Bathinda-Amritsar, Bathinda – Chandigarh, Bathinda-Mansa and Bathinda-Dabwali at Goniana, Bhucho Mandi, Kotshamir and Sangat villages respectively.
A report from Amritsar said angry Sikh activists held protests at various places in Amritsar and Tarn Taran districts.
Road traffic was also thrown out of gear at Amritsar-Delhi national highway because of protests.
Groups of Sikhs staged protest at various place in Tarn Taran including Harikey and Ferozpur Road. There was complete bandh observed in all these areas.
The traffic at 50-km long stretch from Amritsar to Beas was also hit with protesters staging stir at Amritsar bypass, Chattiwind, Jandiala and Rayya.
Sikh youths could be seen carrying swords and iron rods to prevent people from using road even as police did not take any action.
Private buses carrying devotees to Golden Temple were also stopped, forcing the devotees to cover long distance on foot.
Notably, on weekends, around one lakh devotees and tourists throng Amritsar to pay obeisance at Golden Temple and witness beating Retreat ceremony at Attari.
Meanwhile, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar today announced Rs 10 lakh compensation to family of Gurjeet Singh and Krishan Bhagwan Singh who were killed due to police firing during protest. (PTI)
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