In the curfew-bound Ludhiana, violence broke out yet again on Saturday when a group of radical Sikhs clashed with the police while protesting against a congregation organised by a religious sect run by Swami Ashutosh.
In the police firing, one of the protesters was killed and more than a dozen were critically injured.
Led by former Jathedar of Akal Takht Jasbir Singh Rode and some other radical leaders including Damdami Taksal chief Mokham Singh and Harnam Singh, the protesters, some of whom brandishing swords, were heading towards the congregation spot of Divya Jyoti Jagran Sansthan chief when the clash took place.
Police tried to stop the protesters at the barricaded check post but they refused to heed following which police opened fire in the air, Deputy Inspector General of Police Ludhiana Range Sharad Chauhan said.
A number of vehicles, including those of the police, were damaged by the marching protesters resulting in disruption of traffic on various roads, including the Delhi-Ludhiana national highway.
The Sikh protesters had commenced a dharna some distance away from the congregation site even as police personnel had been deployed in strength to control the situation in the wake of clashes between Sikhs and the police at several places.
On Friday the industrial city was rocked by migrants from Bihar going on a rampage to protest against police inaction in a robbery case. The Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, run by the swami, has been among the targets of the radical Sikhs in Punjab.
The Sansthan is headed by Swami Ashutosh , who, along with the Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmit Ram Rahim and Baba Piara Singh Bhaniarewala, has been on the hit-list of radicals.
SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill said the police resorted to firing in the air as the processionists were bent upon disrupting the religious congregation.
