Sahnewal residents block NH for 4 hrs

Lovleen Bains

Sahnewal, October 19

Residents of the town today blocked National Highway 1 for four hours from the morning till noon. The protesters, who were raising religious slogans, demanded immediate arrest and action against those who had desecrated Bir, thus hurting the religious sentiments of the entire Sikh community.

Baba Narinder Singh, Baba Balwinder Singh and Baba Major Singh, in charge of the Kaar Sewa Shri Reru Sahib-Sahnewal, who lead the protest, said: “Every now and then such crime is committed across the state but the government and the police are watching it as mute spectators. The government has completely failed in this respect and doing nothing to nab the offenders.”

“If the government cannot arrest the criminals let the Sikh sangat do it for them. We simply cannot tolerate such a heinous crime being repeatedly committed in front of our eyes,” said Baba Major Singh. Baljit Singh, president, Reru Sahib Management Committee, Malkit Singh, Gurdeep Singh Bhola, Inderjit Singh Baba Dhani and Baba Jagtar Singh, who were among the protesters, condemned the incidents of sacrilege at various places, “The offenders have committed a crime which is unpardonable and in any case we demand their immediate arrest’.

The activists said the incidents had hurt the religious sentiments of all Sikhs and they needed to be thoroughly probed and the criminals brought to book. They said: “We demand immediate arrest of the mischievous elements responsible for the act. Moreover, if such incidents are still taking place, it is the duty of the government to ensure proper security arrangements around religious places.”

Meanwhile, the police have made elaborate security arrangements at the venue for protest. The ACP, Tejvir Singh Hundal, said the protest was peaceful. The traffic had to be diverted towards Kohara. Preventive measures were taken by the police to maintain peace and security in the town”.

The traffic diversion in and around Sahnewal and Doraha lead to harassment to commuters. Employees and students are the worst hit.