Press Trust of India
Patiala
The Punjab government on Saturday shunted out three senior police officers including an inspector general even as Patiala was limping back to normalcy with security personnel keeping a tight vigil a day after clashes between two groups over an anti-Khalistan march.
The police booked 25 accused by name so far in six FIRs registered in connection with Friday’s incident which left four persons injured.
Mobile internet and SMS services were suspended from 9.30 a.m. by the state’s home affairs and justice department till 4 p.m.
The AAP government in the state transferred Inspector General of Police (Patiala Range) Rakesh Agrawal, Patiala Senior Superintendent of Police Nanak Singh and the Patiala superintendent of police with immediate effect.
A spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said Mukhwinder Singh Chhina was appointed as the new IG-Patiala while Deepak Parik will be the new Patiala SSP.
Wazir Singh has been appointed as the new superintendent of police of Patiala.
Talking to reporters here after taking charge, Chhina said Barjinder Singh Parwana, a resident of Rajpura, is the main accused and one of the masterminds of the incident.
“He is yet to be arrested. Several police teams have been formed to nab him,” he said.
He said out of total 25 accused, three have been arrested — Harish Singla, Daljeet Singh and Kuldeep Singh.
“Punjab Police will come down very heavily whoever tries to disturb peace and communal harmony,” said Chhina, flanked by Patiala Deputy Commissioner Sakshi Sawhney.
Police and district administration authorities on Saturday claimed that the situation is under control and peaceful in the city. Heavy police security was deployed at the site of the clashes outside the Kali Mata temple here.
Various Hindu groups had given a call for a bandh in protest against Friday’s incident. Several markets in Patiala city remained shut on Saturday.
Representatives of some Hindu groups lifted their ‘dharna’ outside the temple and deferred their proposed protest march after police and district administration assured them of action within two days against those who were behind the disturbance and violence on Friday.
The groups had clashed over the anti-Khalistan march, hurling stones at each other and brandishing swords. Police had to fire in the air to bring the situation under control.
Meanwhile, Punjab BJP leaders led by its state unit chief Ashwani Sharma on Saturday paid obeisance at Kali Mata temple and appealed to the people to maintain peace and harmony
Sharma demanded an independent probe into the incident and strict action against those who were behind this incident.