Hindu groups go on strike, suspend prayers in temples

Hoshiarpur, July 12 (UNI) Life in the city was thrown out of gear today following a strike call by the various Hindu organisations including Shiv Sena (Bal Thackery), Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Brahman Sabha to press for action against the people, including activists of Ambedkar Sena, who allegedly tried to capture a Shiv Temple here, leading to a bloody clash last night.

Meanwhile, the National President of Akhil Bhartiya Jyotish and Karam Kand Parishad Om Parkash Shastri and President of Maha Shivratri Utsav Committee, Hoshiarpur, Harish Khosla in a joint statement here today said that no devotee would be allowed to have a "Darshna" (glimpse) of deities in all 153 temples of Hoshiarpur Tehsil under protest against the district administration's inaction.

Today, the Hindu activists took out a protest march against the administration in the main bazars of the city and staged dharna at Clock Tower crossing, causing great inconvenience to the public.

Later, they also blocked vehicular traffic at Nangal Shaheedan on Chandigarh-Hoshiarpur road.

The SDM, Hoshiarpur had handed over the control of the disputed Dera Baba Fattu Shah Bibi Sahiba and temple Rameshvar Mahadev, constructed in 12 Kanal 2 Marla land at local Rahimpur locality to Mahant Suraj Parkash on July 10.

Earlier, section 145 of the CrPC had been imposed by the authorities in the area on December 7, 2004, following a dispute between the Mahant and the inhabitants of Rahimpur.

Last night, some activists allegedly of Ambedkar Sena, entered the Dera by force despite deployment of police force and ordered the Mahant Suraj Parkash to leave the place.

However, on arrival of Hindu activists, they left the place but allegedly started pelting stones and bricks on the Dera as a result of which two activists of Bajrang Dal were wounded.

Meanwhile, police force and Duty Magistrate Vijay Sharma, Tehsildar also reached the spot but had to save themselves by taking shelter in a room of Dera.

The SP (D) Dharshan Singh Dhindsa who later reached there, requisitioned more force and flood lights. After a mild lathi charge on stone pelters, police was able to disperse the mob after about three hours.

SSP, Hoshiarpur, Anita Punj said a case under sections 332, 336, 353, 186, 506, 148 and 149 of the IPC has been registered today against some unidentified persons in this connection.

She said that about half-a-dozen persons had been rounded up as a precautionary measures.

Meanwhile, the district administration today called a meeting of both the groups to defuse the situation. While inhabitants of Rahimpur led by the state General Secretary of BSP Onkar Singh Jhamat attended the meeting, the activists of the Hindu organisations did not participate.

The inhabitants of Rahimpur also submitted a memorandum to the Deputy Commissioner in which it was alleged that police along with activists of Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal forcibly entered the houses of Dalits, beat them including women and arrested them without fault.

They demanded immediate release of arrested persons and cases against the activists of Shiv Sena and Bajrang Dal for creating panic in the Rahimpur area.

UNI