Protest near CM’s house seeking vlogger Bhana Sidhu’s release; many detained

Sushil Goyal

Sangrur, February 3

Despite heavy security arrangements in the district, thousands of supporters of vlogger Bhana Sidhu blocked Bathinda-Sangrur-Patiala national highway and staged a dharna more than a km away from the residence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in Sangrur.

Malout-Bathinda road blocked

In protest against the arrest of vlogger Bhana Sidhu, activists of some farmers’ unions started a protest on the Malout-Bathinda road on Saturday. They claimed that the police personnel stopped them from going to Sangrur and their protest would now continue until his release.

Channi put under house arrest

• Former CM and senior Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi was put under house arrest in Morinda on Saturday
• Channi in a video clip claimed that he was on his way to Sangrur when cops detained him. He was released in the evening

Due to the road blockade, a long traffic jam was witnessed. The road blockade ended around 7.15 pm.

The protesters reached the dharna site at about 12.15 pm. As per information, more than 150 persons were rounded up in the district. Of them, many were kept at Sangrur Sadar police station, Cheema police station, Longowal police station etc.

Some leaders were put under house arrest in Sangrur and other districts to stop them from reaching the CM’s residence.

Social activist Lakha Sidhana said by laying ‘nakas’, the administration had been vitiating the atmosphere and harassing the people.

Various organisations, including farm unions, had given a call a few days ago to organise a big gathering in front of the residence of the CM for Bhana’s unconditional release. In view of the call, district police had laid ‘nakas’ in all parts of the district and deployed thousands of police personnel to stop the protesters from reaching the CM’s residence.

Despite the heavy police arrangements, protesters managed to reach the dharna site. At a police ‘naka’ at Kherri village, the police resorted to a mild lathi-charge to disperse the protesters. At Badrukhan village’s ‘naka’, a clash took place between cops and protesters.

Sangrur DC Jitendra Jorwal said the protesters had given an application and necessary action would be taken on the basis of the inquiry report.

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#Bhagwant Mann #Bhana Sidhu #Sangrur