Sacha Sauda: Violence continues in Punjab, PM calls for peace

Chandigarh, May 18 (UNI) Various Sikh organisations burnt the effigies of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh at different places in Jalandhar today as violence continued for the fifth day over the Dera Sacha Sauda controvery in Punjab and some parts of the country.

The Sikh activists brandishing swords and other traditional weapons took out a procession and burnt his effigies at Ali Mohala and Nehru Garden chowk in the city in protest against his alleged attempt to pose as Guru Gobind Singh.

They also gave a call for Jalandhar bandh tomorrow in protest against the Dera activities.

However, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal claimed that the law and order situation in the state was ''totally under control'' and 20 companies of paramilitary forces had already arrived in the state in the wake of strife over the Sacha Sauda controversy.

Talking to reporters here, he said despite the great provocation by Dera Sacha Sauda chief ,the people of Punjab had reacted with restraint and the situation was ''totally under control.'' The Chief Minister said the government would bear the expenses for the treatment of those injured in the recent clashes and also provide compensation for any damage to property.

The Punjab Cabinet, meanwhile, reiterated the government's ''firm resolve to preserve peace and communal harmony and maintain law and order in the state at every cost.'' ''It was resolved in the meeting that no one would be allowed to take law into his hands and anyone trying to do so, would be dealt with firmly,'' Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal said after a Cabinet meeting which reviewed the law and order situation in the wake of clashes over the Dera Sacha Sauda controversy.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has advised the Punjab government to maintain utmost vigil and ensure law and order and protection to life and property of all citizens. Condemning the sectarian violence in the state, Dr Singh urged the people to maintain peace and harmony.

Earlier today, talking to reporters at Rashtrapati Bhavan after Ms V Radhika Selvi (DMK) was sworn in as a Minister of State, Dr Singh said he had talked to Chief Ministers Prakash Singh Badal of Punjab and Bhupinder Singh Hooda of Haryana in the past two days and the Centre was in constant touch with the administration of the two states.

The two states had been assured of all help and asked to take adequate measures to restore normalcy.

The Centre has despatched about 50 companies of para-military forces to Punjab and Haryana in view of the heightened tension in some areas of these states following the controversy.

Home Ministry sources said a majority of the 5,000 personnel of the Rapid Action Force (RAF), Border Security Force and the Central Reserve Police Force, who have been rushed to the troubled areas since yesterday, were deployed in Punjab, which reported more violent incidents.

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