Ambala Sikh protest turns violent; cops use tear gas, lathi charge to clear highway

A Sikh community protest over the delayed FIR against GurSimran Singh Mand led to a highway blockade in Ambala and police action. The standoff continued even after the FIR was filed, as protesters sought the release of detained youths.

In Short

• Protesters warned earlier they would block the National Highway over their demand
• Police barricaded the route from the gurdwara, but demonstrators broke through
• An FIR was later registered, yet demands shifted to detained youths

A protest by members of the Sikh community over the alleged delay in registering an FIR against GurSimran Singh Mand in the Panjokhra Sahib dispute turned tense in Ambala on Thursday, with police using tear gas and a lathi charge to clear a highway blockade.

A large number of Sikh protesters gathered on the highway demanding that a case be registered against Mand. The protesters had earlier held a meeting and announced that they would block the National Highway if their demand was not met.

As the protesters moved towards the highway from the gurdwara, police put up barricades and used tear gas to stop them. The protesters, however, broke through and blocked the highway, leading to a long traffic jam and the deployment of heavy police forces.

Amid mounting pressure, police later registered an FIR against Mand. However, the protest did not end. The protesters then demanded the immediate release of Sikh youths who had been detained by the police.

Several rounds of talks between police officials and Sikh representatives failed to break the deadlock. As darkness fell, police presence on the highway was further increased and protesters were asked to clear the road.

When they refused to move, police used tear gas and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the protesters. The highway was subsequently cleared and traffic restored.

Several police personnel were injured during the operation. Haryana DGP Ajay Singhal visited the Military Hospital and Civil Hospital in Ambala to meet the injured personnel and enquire about their condition.

According to preliminary information released by the Haryana Police, six to seven personnel were injured. Those injured include DSP Virender Sharma, who suffered a serious thumb injury, along with Constables Rakshit and Naveen Kumar, Head Constable Sandeep Kumar, ASI Satish and ASI Pankaj, who sustained finger injuries.

Singhal said maintaining law and order was the police's foremost responsibility and appealed to people to raise grievances peacefully and avoid blocking public roads.

Inspector General of Police Pankaj Nain, Deputy Commissioner Sachin Gupta and SDM Kanika Goyal were also present.

- Ends