Police today arrested Youth Congress' Punjab secretary Parvinder Singh Lapran in connection with the clash between Akali and Congress workers over a white coloured effigy of demon king Ravana in Ludhiana, in which about 35 people were injured.
Police were carrying out raids to nab other accused Congress leaders, including Gurpreet Gogi, president city Congress unit; Guriqwal Singh Honey, who is younger brother of Ludhiana MP Ranveer Singh Bittu; and Narendr Sharma, younger brother of deputy leader of Congress Legislature Party Bharat Bhushan Ashu.
After the clash on Monday night, police registered a case under various sections of the IPC including 307 (attempt to murder), 365 (kidnapping), 506 (threatening) and 295 (hurting religious sentiments) against these leaders, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Dhruman Nimble said.
The controversy over burning of a Ravana effigy donning white colour turned ugly last night when the supporters of both Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress clashed at a ground near Vardhman Chowk on Chandigarh road.
Congress had reportedly prepared white effigies as protest against sale of heroin in Punjab and had planned to burn them on Dussehra along with photos of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Traditionally, Ravana effigies are covered with black glaze paper.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who represents Ludhiana West Assembly constituency, said that as many as 12 Congress men were injured in the clash.
According to police, the SAD workers damaged the white Ravana. The workers also allegedly damaged the vehicle of Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu.
