Sikh protestors clash with police; 15 injured

Fifteen people, including eight policemen, were today injured as Sikh activists protesting against the alleged desecration of their holy book indulged in stone pelting and clashed with cops who used teargas shells and water canons to quell the protest.

Tension prevailed in the district after the violence and heavy police force has been deployed to maintain calm.

At least 6000 Sikh activists staged a protest demanding action against those responsible for the sacrilege.Some of them soon started indulging in stone pelting and were told to disperse, police said.

Ferozepur range DIG Amar Singh Chahal said that police used mild force only when all channels of dialogue between the police officials and leaders of Sikh organisations failed.

Police have detained 500 protesters to maintain law and order.

"The situation is now under control and heavy police force has been deployed to maintain peace and law," the DIG said.

Police is patrolling some villages of Faridkot and Moga districts to keep a vigil on anti-social elements, he said.

According to officials, a holy book was stolen from a religious place located on Bathinda-Kotkapura road recently.

Condemning the incident, Chief Minister Prakash Singh Badal said in a statement here yesterday that nobody would be allowed to disturb the hard earned peace and communal harmony of the state.

"I appeal the people to maintain peace, amity and communal harmony at all cost as preached by our great gurus, seers and prophets," he said.

The Chief Minister cautioned anti-social elements to desist from their nefarious designs to divide society on sectarian lines.

"This sacrilegious act is an unpardonable offence and no one associated with this ghastly crime would be spared at any cost. We will ensure that strictest action is taken against the culprits involved in the shocking incident," he said.