Tear gas, lathis end 6-hour NH-44 blockade; DSP’s thumb severed
AMBALA: At least six police personnel, including a DSP, were injured when a protest by Sikh groups over the arrest of two youths turned violent in Ambala on Thursday, prompting police to use lathicharge and tear gas to clear a six-hour blockade of NH-44.The protesters, numbering around 1,500-1,600 according to Haryana DGP Ajay Singhal, had gathered at Gurdwara Panjokhra Sahib before blocking the Delhi-bound stretch of the Panipat-Jalandhar and Chandigarh routes near Jaggi City Centre around 3pm. The blockade caused major traffic disruption on both sides of the highway.The protesters were demanding the release of Harvinder Singh and Anmol Singh, who were arrested after the August 7 confrontation involving International Anti-Khalistan Terrorist Front (IAKTF) chief Gursimran Singh Mand, his son Bhavjot Singh, Sikh youths and police personnel at Panjokhra Sahib. They also sought cancellation of the case against the two youths and action against Mand and Bhavjot.The agitation continued even after police registered an FIR against Mand and Bhavjot on a complaint by injured devotee Surinder Singh. The case, registered at Panjokhra Sahib police station at 4.52pm, invokes sections 109(1) (attempt to murder), 125(a) (act endangering life or personal safety), 281 (rash driving) and 61 (criminal conspiracy) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.The protesters alleged that Mand’s car, driven by Bhavjot, had run over devotees during Guru Harkrishan’s Gurpurb celebrations and demanded stringent action against them. They also accused Mand, who has central paramilitary protection, of violating gurdwara protocol.A video that surfaced on Wednesday night purportedly shows Surinder trapped beneath Mand’s car while police personnel and members of the Sikh community are at the spot. Members of the Sikh Sangat can be seen lifting the vehicle to rescue him. Surinder told police he remained trapped beneath the car for around 10 minutes. Police, however, said they were examining available video footage to establish the exact sequence of events.The protest was preceded by a gathering of Sikh organisations inside Gurdwara Panjokhra Sahib. A one-hour notice was given to the district administration to hold talks. HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda had initially suggested blocking the Panjokhra Sahib police station on NH-7, the Ambala-Dehradun highway, but the gathering decided to move towards NH-44.As protesters marched towards the GT Road, police put up barricades near NCC School on NH-344 to stop them and fired tear-gas shells. Traffic was disrupted on the Ambala-Dehradun highway, while Jhinda suffered an injury to his right hand during the daytime confrontation. Another group reached NH-44 through alternative routes, joined by protesters from nearby villages, and blocked the highway where traffic from Amritsar and Chandigarh merges towards Delhi.Police again used tear gas at NH-44, but protesters refused to disperse. Ambala SP Ajit Singh Shekhawat held multiple rounds of talks with Jhinda. Police later brought a copy of the FIR against Mand and Bhavjot to the protest site and told the protesters that their demands regarding action against Mand had been addressed.The administration, however, could not immediately release Harvinder and Anmol because their release had to follow court procedure. Shekhawat said they would be released within two days. He also assured the protesters that no further arrests would be made in the case. Jhinda insisted that the blockade would continue until the two youths were released and said it would be withdrawn once they were freed.According to police, the situation deteriorated as darkness fell. Shekhawat alleged that some people in the crowd were carrying spears, battle-axes, swords and other sharp weapons and began attacking police personnel. He also alleged that protesters snatched keys from several trucks to prevent the traffic jam from clearing.A gas tanker became a particular concern, police said, after protesters allegedly took the driver’s keys and threatened him. Police said they repeatedly urged the protesters to allow the tanker through to avoid a possible accident, but the keys were allegedly taken away.DGP Singhal said police had initially exercised restraint and continued negotiations but were forced to act after stone-pelting and attacks on personnel. He said several policemen were injured while the road was being cleared and that cases would be registered against those found responsible for disrupting law and order.Among the injured were DSP Varinder Sharma, constables Rakshit and Naveen Kumar, Head Constable Sandeep Kumar, ASI Satish and ASI Pankaj. Sharma suffered a serious injury to his thumb, while Pankaj sustained injuries to his fingers. Some injured personnel were treated and discharged, while several remained hospitalised.Shekhawat said Sharma was attacked with a sharp-edged weapon, which he described as a ‘farsa’, and alleged that the attack left the DSP’s thumb severely injured. He said police were identifying those involved in the attacks and would register FIRs against them.Police eventually launched the operation to clear NH-44 around 8.45pm, using lathicharge and heavy tear-gas shelling. The blockade ended around 9pm and the protesters dispersed. Demonstrators alleged that the police action injured several of them and damaged cars and two-wheelers. Jhinda was also injured during the police action.DGP Singhal later visited the Military Hospital and Civil Hospital in Ambala to meet the injured personnel and spoke to doctors about their treatment. He enquired about their condition and wished them a speedy recovery.Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini also spoke to Jhinda over the phone and assured him that Harvinder and Anmol would be released within two days, while urging the protesters to lift the blockade.The protest was backed by several Sikh leaders and organisations. Shiromani Akali Dal Haryana president Harkesh Singh Mohri demanded cancellation of the FIR against the two youths before further talks and criticised the BJP-led Haryana government. He also questioned the government’s treatment of turbaned Sikhs.Akali Dal Waris Punjab De acting president Tarsem Singh, father of Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh, and Dakha MLA Manpreet Singh Ayali attended the gathering and demanded the unconditional release of the arrested youths as well as stringent action against Mand and his son. Khatkar Khap Panchayat representative Harikesh Kaabarchaa also extended support to the protesters and sought action against those allegedly responsible for running over devotees.Harvinder and Anmol, both residents of Panjokhra Sahib, were arrested after the August 7 confrontation and sent to 14-day judicial custody. Their arrests became the immediate trigger for Thursday’s agitation.With the highway cleared, there was no fresh announcement on the protesters’ next course of action. Sources said Sikh organisations were likely to meet again after dispersing to safer locations to decide their future strategy.
