Sacha Sauda followers clash with police, 12 injured

Bathinda, May 14 (UNI) Twelve people were injured, two of them seriously, as irate followers of Dera Sacha Sauda today clashed with police and attacked the local Circuit House and the Deputy Commisioner's residence.

The Dera 'Premis' (followers) were protesting against burning of effigies of their religious head by various Sikh organisations yesterday that had led to a clash in the city, injuring 18 people.

Among those injured today were five policemen--two Sub Inspectors and three Head Constables--and seven 'premis', including two women. Head Constable Kesar Singh and Dera follower Pradeep Kumar were seriously injured.

Thousands of stick-wielding 'Premis', who were sitting on a dharna outside the Circuit House, attacked the policemen deployed at the circuit house and pelted them with stones even as a meeting of police and civil officials was on in a nearby building.

They also set afire a police vehicle, a hospital ambulance, the official vehicle of the SP (City) and damaged several other private vehicles parked in the area.

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