Six Sikh leaders planning to join the hardliners’ protest march from Bhagta Bhai Ka to Bargari were detained on Friday.
Police deny it but relevant sources said the action was to scuttle the protest coming up on Sunday (July 17). Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) activist Ranjit Singh Vander, Shri Guru Granth Sahib Satikar Committee member Makhan Singh, United Akali Dal’s Moga district president Chamkaur Singh, Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj’s Moga district president Harjinder Singh Bajeke, Sant Samaj member Resham Singh Kukhrana, and SAD-A Moga president Balraj Singh are the ones detained.
Police released Bajeke after his supporters met Dharamkot station house officer (SHO) and assured him that Bajeke would not go to the protest. Chamkaur Singh was taken away to another district.
Moga police now have only four Sikh leaders in custody. Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Harjit Singh Pannu was unavailable for comments.