Morcha activists clash with UT police, 4 cops hurt

A clash between members of the Quami Insaaf Morcha and the UT police occurred on the Sector 43/52 road as protesters attempted to march towards the Punjab Chief Minister’s residence. The confrontation left four police personnel, including an Inspector, injured.

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The UT police used teargas shells and water cannons to prevent the protesters from marching towards the CM’s house. They also resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the morcha activists. Four police personnel, Inspector Jaiveer Singh, ASI Ramesh, ASI Gurjeet Singh and Constable Jaspreet Kaur, were injured.

The protesters were demanding the release of Sikh prisoners, referred to as Bandi Singhs. In anticipation of the protest, the police had strengthened security with a heavy deployment of forces along the UT border. A group of protesters breached the barricades.

The police claimed that around 11 am, a group of around 70 Morcha members, led by Gurcharan Singh Bapu, marched from the Sector 52/53 road towards the ISBT, Sector 43. The protesters subsequently blocked the road near the bus stand. When they attempted to proceed further, the police detained them. Shortly after, another group of around 100 protesters, armed with swords and sharp weapons, arrived there, leading to a clash. During the confrontation, Inspector Jaiveer Rana, SHO of Sector 11 police station, and ASI Ramesh sustained head injuries.

Meanwhile, another group of protesters marched towards the barricades at the Mattaur barrier near Sector 51. The sword-wielding protesters jumped barricades and began pelting the cops with stones, prompting the police to use mild force to disperse the crowd.

The injured police personnel were taken to Government Multi-Speciality Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16, where they were administered stitches, and were later discharged. The police have registered three FIRs at the Sector 36 police station in connection with the incident.

A police official stated that the individuals involved in the clash were being identified and would be named in the FIRs.

Meanwhile, major traffic snarls were witnessed in the southern part of the city. During the protest the road opposite the ISBT was closed for vehicular traffic and buses were diverted to alternative routes.