Five arrested in attack on Haryana deputy speaker

CHANDIGARH: Five people who were on the forefront of the crowd that allegedly pelted stones and damaged the official vehicle of Haryana deputy speaker Ranbir Gangwa in Sirsa during a protest on July 11 were arrested on Thursday on the basis of electronic evidence, police said. The deputy speaker, who was inside the vehicle, had escaped unhurt even as the protesters had smashed the windscreen of the vehicle.

Sirsa superintendent of police (SP) Arpit Jain said police have registered a first information report (FIR) against 100-odd unidentified protesters, while two protesters were booked by name. The FIR was lodged under Section 124-A (sedition charge), 307 (attempt to murder) and 186 (obstructing public servant while discharging duty) of the Indian Penal Code.

“The five arrested protesters have been identified on the basis of electronic evidence. They were among those pelting stones and smashed the windscreen of the vehicle,” the Sirsa SP said.

Police said the accused were arrested after a thorough examination of the video footage of the incident. The protesters had surrounded the vehicle when the deputy speaker was coming out of Chaudhary Devi Lal University in Sirsa after attending an official function.

The farmers, who have been agitating against the Centre’s three farm laws, had gathered outside the university and were raising anti-government slogans. Despite heavy police deployment, the protesters surrounded the vehicle and pelted stones.