Chandigarh, May 16
Punjab was on boil for the third straight day on Wednesday over Dera controversy.

In Patiala, violence erupted in the Arya Samaj area. Supporters of various Akali parties took out a protest march in the city, raising slogans against Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim, head of the Dera Sacha Sauda.

While the march was passing through Arya Samaj crossing area bricks were thrown at the protesters. The bricks hit the vehicles parked on the streets. Following this, protesters in the march went berserk. They started throwing stones, cold drink bottles and bricks at houses and shops in the locality. Reports of protests were also received from Sanor and Rajpura.

In Amritsar, Sikh youths brandishing swords forced a complete bandh in the city and damaged shops which were open. At Lawrence road, the police bundled some youths into their vehicles but they were got released by a mob. The police had a tough time throughout the day even as tension gripped the town. At most of the places the police remained a mute spectator.

Most of the schools remained close.

Reports from Hoshiarpur said Sikh protesters came out on the streets in Hoshiarpur, Dasuya and Mukerian towns and burnt effigies of Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim.

In Sangrur, representatives and leaders of more than 15 Sikh organisations held a protest meeting at Gurdwara Mehal Mubarak, and submitted a memorandum to SDM Mohan Lal. They demanded the registration of a case against the dera head.

Students of Physical, Gurmat and Akal Degree Colleges, all situated at Mastuana Sahib, on Wednesday burnt an effigy of the Baba at Mastuana Sahib. They also blocked traffic on the Sangrur-Barnala road for about 20 minutes and raised slogans against the dera head.