Situation tense in Muktsar as advocates protest ahead of CM's visit; cops stop them near venue

Tension continues to prevail in Muktsar town as members of the District Bar Association — who have suspended work indefinitely over the registration of a case against an advocate — today attempted to go to the venue of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann's programme to gherao him during his scheduled visit to the town in the afternoon.

The CM is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for sewerage and water supply works under the AMRUT-2.0 scheme at the Government College stadium here. Anticipating a protest, the police had installed multiple barricades and parked buses to prevent the advocates from reaching the spot.

However, the protesting advocates, wearing black ribbons, jumped the barricades and reached near the government college, where they began a sit-in and blocked the Muktsar-Kotkapura road, leading to traffic disruption in the area.

Advocate Arsh Batra said, "Despite multiple blockades by the police, we have reached near the government college, just for the demand of justice to Harmandeep. The police have stationed water cannons and anti riot-vehicles, and may use force to stop us from moving ahead."

Meanwhile, Muktsar ADC (General) Gurpreet Singh Thind held talks with protesters.

The Bar Association has been on an indefinite strike, demanding action against those who allegedly attacked Advocate Harmandeep Singh Sandhu at Jawahrewala village and against the “false” FIR registered against him. The advocates have accused the police of shielding the assailants under political influence.

Police officials, however, maintain that cases have been registered against both factions, as both sides sustained injuries in the incident.

Muktsar SP (D) Manmeet Singh Dhillon had said on Saturday, “In a clash between two groups led by Yadwinder Singh and Harmandeep Singh, both residents of Chak Attari village, at the Jawahrewala village grain market on the evening of October 29, a cross-case has been registered. The investigation is underway, and the accused will be arrested soon.”