Post-revamp: Sec 144 clamped at Jallianwala Bagh

GS Paul
Tribune News Service
Amritsar, September 9

As anger against the “renovation” of Jallianwala Bagh is brewing up, the Amritsar police have put a ban on holding any protest, assembly or gathering of five or more persons in its vicinity.

Over a century after the bloodbath, it was for the first time that Section 144 was imposed in and around the Bagh, citing a threat to the life and property by outfits planning rallies and protests.

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On Baisakhi in 1919, Brigadier General Reginald Dyer had opened fire at unarmed people at Jallianwala Bagh, claiming that he had ordered a ban on public assembly in any part of the city.

Effective till Nov 6

Such a situation can create fear of damage to public and private property. It’s prudent to take preventive steps. The order will remain in force till November 6. —Parminder Singh Bhandal, Amritsar DCP

Dharna on Sept 14

This order is an attempt to stifle people’s voice. We will stage a dharna on Sept 14 at 11 am as the Bagh’s history has been tampered with. —Ramesh Yadav, Folklore research academy

Now, Parminder Singh Bhandal, Executive Magistrate-cum-Deputy Commissioner Police, Amritsar, using his powers under Section 144 of the CrPC, has ordered a ban on the assembly of five or more persons at one place for protest, rallies, meetings or raising slogans in the jurisdiction of all police stations of the Amritsar police.

Bhandal said some farmers, political outfits and other organisations had been planning gatherings, rallies, protests and dharnas in the district. The orders will remain in force till November 6.

“Such a situation can create fear of damage to public and private property. It is prudent to take the preventive steps to maintain the law and order and protect the life and property of common people,” he said.

According to the directions, these orders should be publicised through speakers fitted atop vehicles of the district Public Relations Department and copies should be pasted on the notice boards of offices of the administration, district magistrate, tehsildars and all police stations in Amritsar urban and rural segments.

Meanwhile, martyrs’ kin and various social and political organisations staged protest against several changes introduced during the renovation of the Bagh. They demanded its originality to be restored.

AAP district in charge Jeevan Jyot, Folklore Research Academy president Ramesh Yadav, CPI senior leader Amarjeet Singh Asal, Pragatisheel Lekhak Sangh activist Bhupinder Singh Sandhu and Tarksheel Society president Sumeet Singh have jointly declared to stage a dharna at the Bagh on September 14 at 11 am.

“The ‘nadarshahi farmaans’ of the government are an attempt to stifle people’s voice. We will stage a dharna as per our plan as the history of the Bagh has been tampered with,” Yadav said.

Sunil Kapoor, great grandson of martyr Vasu Mal Kapoor, said: “The same orders were enforced 100 years ago by the British government at the Jallianwala Bagh. When it was defied, the British troops opened fire at innocent people. It appears that the same vision and mentality prevails in the present day government. Such orders will not deter us from contesting the Centre’s move to ignore our forefathers’ sacrifices. We won’t let this Bagh turn into a recreational park,” he said.

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