3 youths hurt in clash

Phagwara, February 8

The town again witnessed a clash between youths of the Balmiki community and Shiv Sena activists in the Baba Gadhia locality here late this evening.

Three youths, including Rahul Karwal, nephew of Shiv Sena leader Inderjit Karwal, and two Dalit youths, Nitin Kumar and Punit Kumar, sustained injuries in the clash. They were admitted to the Civil Hospital. Phagwara ASP Sandeep Malik, along with SHO (City) Jatinderjit Singh rushed to the spot.

Dalit activists alleged that Shiv Sena activists attacked two Balmiki youths while Sena activists said Dalit activists allegedly attacked a mobile shop of Rahul Karwal in connection with the April 13 Goal Chowk incident.

The Dalit activists pelted stones at the Bolero vehicle of Phagwara DSP Gurbhagh Singh near the city police station. A few Dalit activists pelted stones at a Delhi-bound Haryana Roadways bus near Goal Chowk. A signboard of the city police station was also damaged due to stone pelting.

The Dalit activists also staged a dharna and sought arrests of the Sena activists responsible for attacking them. The dharna, which continued for two hours, was lifted after the assurance of SP Mandeep Singh and DSP (Investigation) Manpreet Singh Dhillon. — OC