No response to rival calls by Shiv Sena (H) and SAD (A)

Chandigarh, Dec 14 (UNI) The Punjab bandh call given by Shiv Sena (Hindustan ) against the installation of a protrait of Jarnail Singh Bhinderanwale in the Sikh History museum at Golden Temple complex and the ''Fateh Divas'' (Victory Day) call by Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) to celebrate the move, failed to get any public response in the state today.

All the commercial establishments, government offices, banks, rail and road traffic functioned normally and no untoward incident was reported anywhere in the state where prohibitory orders were clamped as a precautionary measure, officials said.

In Sangrur, SAD (A) president and former MP Simranjit Singh Mann and his 51 supporters were taken into custody by the Punjab police for defying prohibitory orders imposed under section 144 CrPC.

According to police sources, Mr Mann, who was in Sangrur to take part in the 'Fateh Divas' was arrested near the local bus stand.

Several of Shiv Sena activists had also been arrested by the police in the last two to three days in the state while holding protest rallies in the state to express their resentment against the installation of the portrait.

Countering Mr Mann's call, the Shiv Sena (Hindustan) had given a bandh call today and police made some preventive arrests. The SAD (International) has given call to all Punjabis to light lamps on their houses tonight.

In Phagwara, DSP Harkamalpreet Singh Khakh said, the Distirct President of Shiv Sena (Hindustan) Ajay Mehta and several activists of Sena and Akali Dal Maan were taken ito custody to prevent any untoward incident and were later released.

UNI