12 hurt in Phagwara communal clashes

Ashok Kaura

Phagwara, July 22

More than 12 persons, including Shiv Sena leader Inderjit Karwal, were injured in communal clashes here today.

Members of two communities hurled bricks, stones and bottles at each other in the presence of the police on the local Gaushala Road. The injured persons included Inspector Aman Kumar and Sadar SHO’s gunman Binderpal. Four of them were admitted to the Civil Hospital. The uniform of SHO (City) Ramandeep was torn.

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Trouble started when Muslim activists submitted a memorandum to SP Arjinder Singh at the local mosque, accusing Shiv Sainiks of stopping Kashmiri truck drivers and writing inflammatory slogans on the walls of their shops.

When the activists came out of the mosque, they had a face-off with Sena men, who were taking out a protest march. Members of the Akal Students’ Federation, led by Sukhdev Singh, and Dalit activists led by PPCC member Jarnail Nangal and BSP leader Harbhagan Suman came out in support of the Muslims. Cops used mild force to disperse the mob.

The markets on Gaushala Road, Serai Road, Old Railway Road and Kera Masjid remained closed till the evening. SDM Balbir Raj Singh and DSP KS Chahal rushed to the spot. Later, IG LN Angra, DIG Rajinder Singh, SSP Rajinder Singh and Kapurthala DC Jaskiran Singh arrived and police force from neighbouring districts was deployed.

Sena leaders demanded the transfer of the DSP, accusing him of being partisan. Fifty persons have been booked.