PROTESTERS CLASH WITH POLICE IN LUDHIANA

Jagraon, Around 35 persons were injured in a clash between villagers and the police at Kannian Hussaini village, near Sidhwan Bet, here today. The police had gone to the village to assist the local administration in getting vacated the land allotted to the family of Sino-Indian war martyr Bhag Singh so that its possession could be handed over to the martyr’s family.
Around 12 policemen (Hathur SHO Satnam Singh, two ASIs and some constables) and some women were among those injured in the clash.
The villagers allegedly attacked the police with sticks besides pelting them with stones. The police canecharged the protesters and used tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to disperse the mob. Over 10 villagers have been arrested in the case.
Earlier, a team of the local administration, lead by SDM Jagraon Rakesh Kumar Popli, arrived in the village to get the land vacated. A large number of villagers, led by the activists of various farmers’ and labourers’ unions, assembled there and gheraoed the team. Though the authorities tried to convince the villagers to cooperate and vacate the land peacefully, the villagers refused to give up.
The police then tried to disperse the crowd and a clash ensued. The situation turned violent when some villagers started hurling stones on policemen from the rooftops of their houses. Some vehicles of the police were also damaged.
The police then used force. The villagers alleged the police entered their houses and assaulted people, including women.
Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Rajat Aggarwal also reached the village to take stock of the situation. The administration later gave possession of the vacated land to the family of the martyr in the presence of DC Rajat Aggarwal. Jagraon SSP Ravcharan Singh Brar said the police had arrested 16 villagers after registering a case against them.