Punjab sacrilege: National highway blocked by Sikh protesters

PHAGWARA: A group of Sikh activists today blocked the national highway here in protest against two fresh incidents of alleged desecration of their holy book in Ferozepur and Tarn Taran districts.

Around 30 protesters assembled near the Phagwara sugar mill this morning and sat in the middle of the Amritsar-Delhi National Highway, leading to a huge traffic blockade. The highway is also used by vehicles bound for Jammu from Delhi, Phagwara SP Ashwani Kumar said.

The protesters were joined by former head priest of Takht Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur, Sahib Bhai Ranjodh Singh and Punjab Congress General Secretary Joginder Singh Mann.

The commuters had a harrowing time as their vehicles got stuck on Phagwara-Jalandhar and Phagwara-Hoshiarpur highway, even as the police was busy diverting the traffic to alternate routes.

Ambulances, however, were allowed to pass through, Kumar said.

The Phagwara SP along with some other district administration officials reached the spot and attempted to persuade the protesters to lift their blockade.

Two fresh incidents of alleged desecration of a Sikh holy book came to light yesterday in Tarn Taran and Ferozepur districts, leading to tension in both areas.

Punjab has been hit by widespread demonstration from Sikh protesters, after their holy book was allegedly found desecrated at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village of Faridkot on June 1.