Three days after a group of Sikh men clashed with Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda followers over the holding of “naam charcha” (religious congregation) at Marauri, a village in Samana town of Patiala district, assistant sub-inspector Mewa Singh has been suspended for ‘unprofessional conduct’.
The ASI was posted at the Mavi Kalan police station that had jurisdiction over the area in which the clash happened.
“The clash could have been prevented, had the ASI acted swiftly. He mishandled the situated and was late in even reaching the spot,” said SSP S Bhoopati, adding that he did not even call for reinforcement.
DIG, Patiala range, Sukhchain Singh Gill, who visited the spot on Wednesday, has directed the SSP to get an investigation done from SP (investigation) Harwinder Singh Virk. He added the police had heard out both parties and an inquiry was on into the matter.
Even as the police have taken some action, tension continued to simmer in the town after dera followers held a ‘naam charcha’ (religious congregation) at the local dera under heavy police force on Wednesday. The dera followers are demanding immediate arrest of alleged culprits involved disrupting their congregation and attacking dera followers on July 23.
Meanwhile, members of Sikh organisations gathered at the local gurdwara, protested and sought the immediate release of their members the police had detained on Sunday. Sarbat khalsa appointed jathedars — Baljeet Singh Daduwal, Amrik Singh Ajnala and Dhian Singh Mand — led the gathering.
Daduwal claimed, “The Samana Police made a 14-year-old and his father sit in the police station for 10 hours. They were released only around 3.30am on Wednesday.” He alleged that at least 12 members of radical organisations had been detained illegally. He also claimed that Dera followers held religious congregation without permission.
Patiala SSP S Bhoopati rubbished all the allegations.
