2 injured as clashes erupt in Patiala
THE TROUBLE BEGAN WHEN RADICAL SIKH ELEMENTS CAME OUT IN LARGE NUMBERS TO OPPOSE THE KHALISTAN MURDABAD MARCH ORGANISED BY THE SHIV SENA (BAL THACKERAY)
PATIALA: Tension gripped Punjab’s Patiala town on Friday after members of a group that calls itself Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) and pro-Khalistani activists clashed by throwing stones at each other and brandishing swords, prompting police to fire in the air to bring the situation near the local Kali Devi Temple under control.
Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday urged people to maintain law and order at all costs besides upholding the long traditional love, peace, brotherhood and harmony.
As per an official statement ,Mann termed the incident as “highly deplorable” and “extremely unfortunate”
The trouble began when radical Sikh elements came out in large numbers to oppose the Khalistan Murdabad March organised by the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray). Harish Singla, the executive president of the outfit, led the anti-separatist march from Patiala’s Arya Samaj Chowk to Kali Devi Temple.
Amid slogan-raising, Singla said: “The Shiv Sena will never allow Khalistan to be formed in Punjab or anywhere in India.”
He also said banned Sikhs for Justice convener Gurpatwant Pannu had led calls to mark the foundation day of Khalistan on April 29.The Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) march was organised to oppose Pannu’s call.
At the same time, a large number of Khalistan supporters reached the spot and both sides began throwing stones at each other. CM Mann tweeted that he state government was closely monitoring the situation.
“The incident of clashes in Patiala are deeply unfortunate. I spoke with the DGP, peace has been restored in the area. We are closely monitoring the situation and will not let anyone create disturbance in the state. Punjab’s peace and harmony is of utmost importance,” he tweeted.
Patiala (SSP Nanak Singh reached the spot and 15 rounds were fired in the air to bring the situation under control.
A Hindu activist, Ashutosh Gautam, and a cop, Karamvir Singh, were among the injured.