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Clashes with Ambala police: Jhinda, Amritpal’s father, SAD Haryana chief among 36 booked
Complainant cop Naib Singh said that they were on duty at a nakka near Panjokhara dispensary, when around 200 men started marching from Panjokhara Sahib Gurdwara
A day after a large number of protestors staged a sit-in on NH-44 at Ambala disrupting traffic which the police later removed using force, two FIRs have been registered against 36 men for allegedly damaging public property, attempting to murder and blocking the national highways.
Both the FIRs name president of Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) Jagdish Singh Jhinda, Jailed Khadoor Sahib MP Amritpal Singh’s father Tarsem Singh and Haryana wing president of Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) Harkesh Singh Mohri. HT has copies of both FIRs.
The cases were also lodged against member of Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) from Sirsa, Gurmej Singh, Punjab social activist and vlogger Bhana Sidhu (Bhagwan Singh), Ambala president of BKU Charuni Malkeet Singh, BKU Shaheed Bhagat Singh chief Amarjeet Mohri, his aides Tejveer Singh, Jai Singh Jalbera, Navdeep Singh Jalbera and others.
According to the first FIR registered at Panjokhara police station on Friday in which 20 men were booked under provisions of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, National Highway Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), complainant cop Naib Singh said that they were on duty at a nakka near Panjokhara dispensary, when around 200 men started marching from Panjokhara Sahib Gurdwara.
He said that the protestors used their vehicles to break through the barricades installed to stop them and forcefully reached NH-72 (Ambala-Naraingarh-Himachal) to block traffic.
The second case was lodged at Baldev Nagar police station under the Arms Act, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, National Highway Act and 13 sections of the BNS for the sit-in at NH-44 near Jaggi City Center against 16 accused, based on the complaint of ASI Pankaj Kumar from CIA Naraingarh, who was injured in an alleged attack.
He said that forces from the India Reserve Battalion (IRB), Haryana Armed Police (HAP) and police, amid the imposition of prohibitory orders issued by Ambala DC under section 163 of the BNSS, saw around 800 men carrying weapons and sticks start gathering near the location around 2 pm.
“They forcefully blocked NH-44 on both lanes, disrupting traffic movement. Administrative officials requested them to open the highway but they did not. At around 8 pm, the protestors suddenly attacked the on-duty cops, after which mild lathicharge was used on the orders of duty magistrate. During this time, someone with the intent to kill, hit on my head and I also received injuries on my hand. Several other cops were also injured,” the cop said in the complaint.
Ambala SP Ajit Singh Shekhwat said that the police demonstrated patience and restraint while clearing NH-44, but attacks on police personnel using lethal weapons will not be tolerated under any circumstances.
“During the attack, a direct sword blow was aimed at the CIA-02 In-charge; fortunately, his body protector saved his life. However, the force of the blow was such that the body protector was completely sliced through. DSP Virender Sharma, who suffered a lethal injury, was referred to PGIMER Chandigarh, where he underwent major surgery and was admitted to the ICU. Eight other injured cops are undergoing treatment,” he said.
The SP said that the miscreants not only targeted the police force but also caused extensive damage to public property on the National Highway.
He said that the accused smashed police barricades and heavily vandalised eight police vehicles deployed for law-and-order duties.
“All miscreants are being identified through CCTV footage and video recordings from the scene. Steps will be taken to ensure the immediate arrest of the accused,” the SP said.
Meanwhile, he also clarified the reported delay in the FIR against Gursimran Singh Mand, the national president of the International Anti-Khalistani Terrorist Front, and said, “Investigators were in the process of gathering all evidence as the protestors had demanded a case against attempted murder. When we had enough evidence through CCTV footage, we immediately lodged the FIR and handed over a copy to the leadership at the protest site. But since the August 7 attack also included police and CID personnel, action in that case was taken first.”
On the other hand, protestors claimed multiple injuries to their colleagues during the use of force by police. In view of the events, several Sikh leaders from various groups met at Kurukshetra to discuss the next course of action.
Farmer leader Amarjeet Singh Mohri said that the gathering decided to celebrate August 15 as ‘black day’ and to call a large Sikh Sammelan at Kurukshetra’s Pipli on August 25 to discuss the circumstances.
On the other hand, HSGMC chief Jhinda hit-out at the BJP government and said, “I’m being deliberately targeted by the administration and the government for being the gurdwara chief. After a call from the CMO at 8.13 pm, I informed my 49 members that the government had agreed to our demand to release two arrested men and that we must announce the end of this protest. Suddenly, at 8.18 pm, I was targeted despite being an elderly person and president of the Haryana Sikh community.”
Jhinda claimed that they were betrayed, as on one side, the government agreed to the demand and on the other side, the administration started hitting them with lathis and using tear gas against them.
“On August 25, we have invited all political parties, social and religious groups, Akal Takht and Sikhs across the globe to join and fight for justice and to stop this from happening again,” he said.
When asked about the mischievous elements at this site, he said that it was not easy to control the sentiments of the sangat.
“I doubt that such elements were planted by the BJP. They must have sent their men to snatch away the keys of truck drivers or attack cops. I also doubt that the police broke their vehicles to make up the case against us,” he told HT over phone.
Adopt sensitive approach, withdraw cases: Hooda
Former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition Bhupinder Singh Hooda has urged the government to handle the situation in Ambala with impartiality and a sensitive manner. Instead of escalating this conflict further, the BJP government should now withdraw the cases registered against the Sikh Sangat, members of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, and farmers,” the ex-CM said in a statement.
