Police use force on protesters demanding release of Sikh prisoners in Mohali
Barricades breached with tractors, ‘Punjab Bandh’ called for Aug 21
Chandigarh : Police resorted to teargas and water cannons to stop supporters of the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha from entering the city, as thousands gathered at the Yadavindra Public School border in Mohali to demand the release of Sikh political prisoners.
According to Kashmir Media Service, protesters attempted to remove police barricades and barbed wire and tried to breach them using tractors, defying repeated police appeals to turn back.
In response, a heavy deployment of police vehicles used water cannons and fired tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. Officials claimed some young protesters were seen carrying weapons.
The police also detained Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritdhari) chief Simranjit Singh Mann near Punjab Lok Bhawan, where he had arrived disguised as a patient with his face covered in bandages.
The Qaumi Insaaf Morcha march was called to press for the release of Sikh prisoners languishing in jails despite completion of sentences. The SGPC chief had earlier backed the August 15 protest.
Condemning the use of force on a peaceful march, the Morcha announced a ‘Punjab Bandh’ on August 21 and urged people across the state to support the shutdown.
The crackdown came on India’s Independence Day, as authorities sealed borders and deployed additional forces to prevent protesters from entering Chandigarh.
