14 Sikh protesters held, march scuttled

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, July 17

With the arrest of 14 radical Sikh leaders, the Faridkot police today foiled their protest march from Bhagta Bhai Ka to Bargari.

The Sarbat Khalsa-appointed ‘Jathedars’ had given a call for the march against the “failure” of the government to arrest those involved in the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. A heavy police force was deployed on the 40-km stretch from Bhagta Bhai Ka in Bathinda to Bargari in Faridkot.

Policemen were also deployed around the gurdwara in Bargari village where the march was scheduled to end. As some Sikh leaders reached the gurdwara, the police arrested them.

The arrested include Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala, general secretary, SAD (Amritsar), Surjit Singh Arianwala, Faridkot district president of the party, Pargat Singh, Balbir Singh Lohgarh and Laldeep Singh of Ferozepur district.

Nine leaders of SAD (Amritsar), United Akali Dal and various other Sikh organisations were arrested near Doad village on the Jaitu-Bhagta Bhai Ka road, they alleged.

After the registration of a case under Section 107/51 of the CrPC, the police produced all arrested persons before the court of the Jaitu SDM and they were sent to four-day judicial custody.

The Sikh leaders said a peaceful protest was their democratic right and the police act of arresting them was illegal.