Punjab bandh turns violent in support of Balwant Singh Rajoana's clemency

CHANDIGARH: At least six persons were injured in a clash between two groups in Patiala during the Wednesday bandh in Punjab in support of a clemency demand for Balwant Singh Rajoana, a Babbar Khalsa terrorist, who is on death row in the assassination case of former chief minister Beant Singh.

The two groups clashed in Patiala after some members of several organizations objected to Khalistan slogans raised by the clemency supporters.

Another incident of violence was reported from Lehragaga in Sangrur district where members of two communities pelted stones at each other.

In Jalandhar, protesters forcibly tried to close a bank and pelted stones at open shops. In Muktsar internal exams of students of a medical college were disrupted by the agitated demonstrators.

The violent incidents occurred despite huge presence of security personnel.

The strike till afternoon had remained peaceful and the state government had sounded a high alert and beefed up the security by deploying over 60,000 Punjab police personnel and 15 companies of para-military forces. Flag marches were carried out by the police department and the para-military forces in all the major cities. A complete 'bandh' was observed in Punjab hitting the normal life across the state.

The bandh call was given by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of the Sikhs, which has been demanding clemency for Rajoana. Shops, business establishments and schools remained closed in all the major cities including Amritsar, Jalandhar, Phagwara, Muktsar, Faridkot, Moga, Sangrur, Barnala, Mansa, Bathinda, Mohali, Patiala, and Ludhiana.

Public transport was also badly affected and roads remained deserted as buses throughout the state remained off the roads. Rajoana is to be hanged on March 31 as per the Chandigarh district court orders. Punjab chief minister Prakash Singh Badal is expected to meet President Pratibha Patial on Wednesday for seeking clemency to Rajoana.