1 killed as police open fire at protestors in Ludhiana

One person was killed and 15 others, including three policemen, were injured when Sikhs objecting to a religious congregation by Jalandhar-based sect clashed with police in Ludhiana on Saturday. The policemen, including Deputy Superintendent of Patran in Patiala district Sukhdev Singh, sustained injuries in the clash in which police used batons and teargas to quell the protestors. Police say while curfew has not been lifted in the area, the situation is under control. Paramilitary forces are also there in Ludhiana. The DSP was injured when he was stabbed by a 'kirpan'. Some of the Sikhs were seen wielding swords and kirpans at the protest march, a police spokesman said. The clash broke out when a group of Sikhs protesting against the congregation called by Jalandhar-based Divya Jyoti Sansthan chief Ashutosh Maharaj tried to force their way towards the venue. Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ludhiana Range, Sharad Chauhan told reporters that the police opened fire in the air after baton charge and bursting of tear gas shells failed to stop the protestors led by former Jathedar of Akal Takht Jasbir Singh Rode and some other radical leaders including Damdami Taksal Chief Mokham Singh and Harnam Singh. One person was brought dead with a bullet wound in his chest and 12 other injured persons were brought to the Christian Medical College (CMC) Hospital, a hospital pokesman said. The three injured policemen were provided medical aid on the spot. A number of vehicles, including those of the police, were damaged by the protestors resulting in disruption of traffic on various roads, including the Delhi Ludhiana National Highway passing through the industrial town. Police personnel, including those of the Punjab Armed Police (PAP), had been deployed to control the situation. The DIG said the protestors damaged a number of police and private vehicles. This is the second day in a row that Ludhiana is burning. On Friday, protests by migrant labourers turned ugly. The labourers torched more than six vehicles, pelted stones and jammed the highway as they protested against the police for not taking action on their complaint. Reinforcements had to be called in to control the angry crowds.