7 Dalits sent to judicial custody

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, May 27

Seven Dalits arrested by the Bhawanigarh police on May 24 following a clash with the police at Balad Kalan village (near Bhawanigarh) were today remanded in judicial custody by a local court till June 7. On May 25, they were remanded in police custody for two days.

Bhawanigarh SHO Baljinder Singh Pannu said all seven accused, including Lakhwinder Singh, Harbhinder Singh, Ranjit Singh, Paramjit Singh, Sardip Singh and Satpal Singh, had been sent to jail.

In fact, the police had registered a case against 70 Dalits and others, including Mukesh Malaud, district president of the Zamin Prapati Sanghrash Committee (ZPSC), under various sections of the IPC. They were booked for allegedly hurling stones at policemen, while blocking the Sangrur-Patiala main road at Balad Kalan village.

Earlier, the Dalits, led by members of the Zamin Prapati Sanghrash Committee (ZPSC), had boycotted the auction of panchayat land reserved for SCs calling it “dummy”.