Faridkot (Punjab): Two people were killed and 75 others, including an IGP, were injured as clashes rocked a number of places in Punjab, including Faridkot, Moga and Sangrur districts, over alleged desecration of a holy book.
A major clash between protesters and police took place in Behbal Kalan village, some 20 kms from Faridkot, where activists of various Sikh organisations, including radicals, had set up a blockade.
"A police party was sent to clear the blockade set up by some activists near Behbal Kalan village. The protesters clashed with cops, pelted stones on them, forcing police to fire in self defence, lob tear gas shells and use water cannons to disperse the mob," Faridkot Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Sukhwinder Singh said.
The clash left two youth, both in their 20s dead, and many injured, he said, adding "The situation is tense, but under control."
Earlier, protesters clashed with police at Kotkapura also in this district, he said.
Bathinda Zone IGP JK Jain was among 75 people injured, four of them seriously in these clashes. There were 15 police personnel among the injured, officials said.
Clashes between protesters and police were also reported from some places in Sangrur and Moga.
Police had to open fire, use water cannons and lob tear gas shells and cane charge the protesters to disperse them, officials said.
The protesters were agitated over reports of tearing of pages of a holy book.
Heavy police force has been deployed to maintain law and order in Faridkot, Moga, Mansa, Bathinda and Sangrur district, officials said.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal have promised action against the miscreants and appealed for maintenance of peace.
Sikh organisations are demanding action against those behind the incident of tearing of 150 pages of the holy book and Badal said the guilty would not be spared.
Normal life was thrown out of gear due to widespread protests in places like Moga, Faridkot, Sangrur and parts of Bathinda and Mansa, police said.
In Jalandhar, Section 144 of CrPC, which bars assembly of more than four people at one place, was imposed in the rural areas of the district till December 11, Deputy Commissioner KK Yadav said.
Sikh organisations blocked traffic on Sangrur-Patiala road at Bhawanigarh, Sangrur-Barnala road at Mastuana, Sangrur-Dhuri road at Sangrur, IT Chowk and Sheron Chowk near Sunam, Dhuri-Barnala road at village Mulowal, Katron village near Sherpur.
Besides, protests were also held at Roorkee village near Malerkotla, at Malerkotla near Gurdwara Ha Da Nara, at Kup Kalan on Malerkotla-Ludhiana road and Dirba on Sangrur-Delhi highway besides Handiaya Chownk at Barnala, police said.
Protesters also blocked the Moga-Ferozepur national highway at Dagru village, and the Moga-Kotkapura highway at Samalsar and Rode villages. Police detained around 500 protesters.
All schools have been closed in Kotkapura area, officials said.
Sikh protesters had pitched their tents in Kotkapura town since Monday to protest against the alleged desecration of the holy book which was reportedly stolen earlier from a gurdwara at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village of Faridkot on June 1.
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