Bid by YC activists to gherao CM’s house foiled
Thursday, 06/06/2013
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130606/punjab.htm#1
Chandigarh : The police today used tear gas and water canons to thwart Punjab Youth Congress activists from marching towards the residence of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal. It arrested State Youth Congress president Vikramjit Chaudhary and rounded up Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Bittu.
Congress activists, who congregated at the Congress Bhawan here, proceeded to “gherao” the Chief Minister’s residence for the SAD-BJP Government’s failure to arrest the “murderers” of Patti Youth Congress activist Sukhraj Singh during the recently held zila parishad elections.
The activists, led by Chaudhary and carrying effigies of the CM, Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal, minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon and police chief Sumedh Singh Saini, attempted a detour by moving towards PGI from Sector 15 only to find that the UT police had barricaded the entire road.
The police used tear gas shells and water canons to scatter the protesters.
Chaudhary and 20 other activists entered Government College for Boys and proceeded towards the Sector 11 market en route to the CM’s residence. They were intercepted near the market with the police resorting to a mild lathi-charge.
While a few activists were injured, Vikramjit Chaudhary, Sukhpal Bhullar, Rajwinder Lucky, Deep Inder Randhawa, Amarpreet Lally, Sukhwinder Singh Danny and Vijay Agnihotri were arrested on the charge of breaking peace. A case under Sections 107 and 151 was registered against them at the Sector 11 police station. Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Bittu tried to proceed towards Sector 11 with some supporters but was intercepted by the police. He was let off after being detained for some time. Talking to mediapersons at Punjab Congress Bhawan, Chaudhary claimed that some criminal elements had taken law into their own hands because of the SAD-BJP Government’s policy to encourage radical elements.
He said it was unfortunate that the state police led by Saini had become a puppet in the hands of the Akalis. The Youth Congress would continue its agitation against the government until Sukhraj’s “murderers” were brought to book. he added.
Meanwhile, press note issued by the SAD claimed that “only a few dozen boys out on a summer picnic” had participated in the protest even though a few thousand youth activists had gathered at the spot.
Maheshinder Singh Grewal, adviser to the Chief Minister, described the protest as an “exercise in futility.” He said the government had already taken action against the guilty. “It appears the Youth Congress is trying to deflect the people’s attention from the humiliating defeat suffered by the Congress in the block samiti and zila parishad elections,” Grewal said.
- Police, activists battle it out
- Police uses tear gas, water canons on protesters
- Activists carry effigies of CM, Deputy CM, minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon and police chief Sumedh Singh Saini
- State YC chief Vikram Chaudhary arrested; Anandpur Sahib MP Ravneet Bittu detained
- Police resorts to mild lathi charge at Sector 11 market
