BJP and Shiv Sena leaders detained, arrested for celebrating

PATIALA: BJP leaders in Patiala, Fatehgarh Sahib and Ropar districts were detained and booked for celebrating the change in the status of Jammu and Kashmir. In Patran block of Patiala district, 16 persons were booked after they distributed sweets and set off crackers to celebrate the decision of the Union government.
Fatehgarh Sahib BJP president Pardeep Garg was detained after giving an interview to a TV news channel where he announced celebrations. He was nabbed by the police while celebrating and distributing sweets.
Patiala police also arrested two persons on Monday and sent them to jail on Tuesday in Patran. The case was registered at Patran police station against local BJP leaders and workers, including the two arrested and 14 unidentified persons under sections of IPC.
Patran station house officer (SHO) Ranbir Singh said, “They were booked for promoting disharmony between two groups, committing affray, armed with deadly weapon and rioting, disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant, and danger or obstruction in a public way. Besides this, sections of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act were also added against the accused. The accused had not only distributed the sweets but also had taken law into their hands and thus promoted disharmony, the enmity of feelings of hatred between different groups.”
In Anandpur Sahib town of Ropar, Shiv Sena district unit chief Nitin Nanda and his associate Sunil Ghanauli were taken into preventive custody. A case against both of them was registered at Anandpur Sahib police station on Tuesday. On Monday, former district planning board chairman Parminder Sharma who also contested assembly elections from Anandpur Sahib recently was detained for few hours by police.
Anandpur Sahib SHO Rajpal said a case against the Shiv Sena leaders was registered and they were taken into preventive custody.