Punjab 'bandh' peaceful, lathi charge in Ambala

Chandigarh, May 22 (UNI) Life in Punjab today came to a stand still as the state observed a complete bandh called by the Akal Takht to protest against the alleged ''anti-Sikh'' activities of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Though the day-long bandh remained peaceful throughout the border state, ten people, including four policemen were injured in a clash between police and Sikh protestors at Ambala in the neighbouring state of Haryana.

The Punjab Government while thanking the people and all religious and social organisations for maintaining peace and communal harmony during the bandh, however, made it clear that efforts would continue to maintain peace in the state.

''Government is not going to lower its vigil, we have to be ready'', Punjab Chief Minister's Media Adviser Harcharan Bains said at a media conference this evening. He claimed that barring a few demonstrations which were orderly in manner, the bandh passed of peacefully and at no place did the police have to use force to intervene to restore order.

Punjab DGP N P S Aulakh said six to seven people were taken into preventive custody at Bathinda and that no untoward incident occured in any part of the state.

Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, too, thanked the people for showing restrain and abiding by his directions to maintain peace and harmony.

Ten people, including four policemen, were injured at Ambala when Sikh activists clashed with the police who lathicharged the demonstrators trying to take out a procession in protest against the Dera Sacha Sauda even as prohibitory orders were in force in the city.

Superintendent of Police Amitabh Dhillon was among the four policemen injured when the demonstrators pelted them with stones as the police resorted to lathicharge near the Badshahi Bagh Gurudwara in Ambala city.

A report from Sirsa said a total bandh was observed in the town, even as an all religion delegation arrived to hold discussions with the Dera Chief in order to find a solution to the problem. The bandh in other parts of Haryana evoked a mixed response.

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