Ex MP held, 4 police companies deployed in Patiala

Patiala May 17 (UNI) Four companies of police have been deployed to maintain peace in the city which witnessed a clash over the Sacha Sauda controversy yesterday whlile police have arrested former MP and Shiromani Akali Dal (International) chief Atinderpal Singh.

SSP Patiala S K Asthana today said Atinderpal Singh was arrested for instigating people to go on rampage yesterday. He was trying to mobilise people against one section of the society, he added.

Atinderpal Pal Singh was elected to Lok Sabha from Patiala in 1989 defeating Congress nominee Vinod Sharma. He was in jail at that time and was facing charges of hatching conspiracy for the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He was later acquitted by the Supreme Court.

Atinderpal Singh had formed a gurdwara in the memory of late Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale at Dhantail in Patiala District.

The SSP said police had sought 200 personnel of the reserve force of the Punjab Police.

He denied that the Satsang centre near Rajpura was set ablaze by some miscreants. It caught fire due to short circuit.

Deputy Commissioner D S Grewal, meanwhile, denied a radio report that curfew was clamped in Patiala city. He said the district administration had imposed only prohibitory orders.

UNI