Enraged protestors block NH-44, pelt Panipat police with stones; water cannon used by cops
Mukesh Tandon
Tribune News Service
Panipat, July 30
Enraged over police inaction in the alleged murder case of three children, family members of the victims, along with a hundred villagers, on Thursday protested and blocked the traffic on National Highway-44, near the mini secretariat.
Reportedly, the police have not arrested the accused involved in the alleged murder case.
Police have used water cannons and lathi-charged against the protestors to disperse them. This caused some protestors and police personnel minor injuries.
The protestors also pelted stones at the police. They broke glasses and around two dozen private vehicles parked under the flyover after the police lathi-charged them.
As per the schedule, Kashyap community and hundreds of villagers gathered at Binjhol village and moved towards the mini secretariat.
The villagers, under the banner of Kashyap Samaj Sangharsh Samiti, held a protest march against the police by raising slogans.
Heavy police forced was deputed near the mini secretariat. The gates were closed to stop the protestors from entering the mini secretariat.
The villages raised slogans. They also had heated arguments with the officers.
Enraged protestors, set on Dharna at NH-44, blocked the traffic on both sides for over 50 minutes.
Meanwhile, SDM Swapnil, Ravindera Patil, DSP City Virender Saini, DSP Sandeep Kumar, along with the heavy police force reached there and tried to pacify the protestors. But the protestors were adamant and demanded the arrest of the accused involved in the murder of three children.
The police warned the protestors, but they did not pay any heed to their warning. The police called the water cannon, and used that to disperse them. The police rained the lathis over the protestors for around 10-12 minutes.
The protestors also got violent as they pelted stones over the police.
Superintendent of Police, Manisha Chaudhar, said: “The villagers have met several times, about the progress in their case, and every time we briefed the details to them, but they were adamant on the arrest of the accused in the case.”
“They had given a call regarding the protest on July 30, and as per their call, they came here with sticks and stones in their hands, and also blocked the traffic on NH-44,” she continued.
“Our officers tried to pacify the protestors for a long time, but they were not even ready to hear,” she added.
“We have pacified them several times so that they don’t disturb law and order situations, but when they tried to gherao the mini secretariat and blocked the traffic on NH-44, we had to use mild lathi charge and water cannon to disperse them”, the SP maintained.
“Some police personnel sustained injuries, and we have also detained some protestors who were leading the protest”, she said.
“A case would be registered against the protesting people under various sections”, the SP asserted.
Notably, the dead bodies of three children—Lakshya, Vansh and Arun of Binjhol village were found in the minor canal flowing adjoining to an illegal bleaching unit on July 8.
The police have registered a case against 12 persons allegedly for murdering three children.
SP Manisha Chaudhary had constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to inquire into the matter. The cause of death of three children was not cleared so far.
