Sunday, 4 January 2015

Several hurt in clash over movie

Rajay Deep

Bathinda

Dozens of people sustained injuries during a clash between Dera Sacha Sauda followers and members of Sikh community outside the Police Station at Baghapurana town of Moga district on Tuesday.

The clash took place after some persons, alleged to be Sikhs, tore down the posters of Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s upcoming Bollywood movie ‘MSG-The Messenger of God’. Both groups were so violent that while hurling stones and bricks at each other, they didn’t even spare the cops consistently persuading them to maintain cool.

In a free-for-all, besides the Dera followers, Sikhs and policemen, many passersby too were victims of the violence. Finally, the cops shot several rounds in the air and also resorted to lathicharge on both groups to disperse the violent mob. The district administration imposed prohibitory orders in the town under section 144 of CrPC.

No case was registered as the cops were in process to record the statements of the two groups.

According to information, some dera followers on Monday night complained to the Police about some persons (Sikhs) involved in tearing down the posters of their sect head’s upcoming movie. Sensing the issue could take a serious turn, the cops hurriedly rounded up three persons.

On Tuesday morning, hundreds of Dera followers reached the Police station Baghapura and members of Sikh community also in equal strength arrived there. Finding tension brewing with the two groups reaching there, a number of cops hurriedly made a human wall to check them. While some representatives of both groups were busy in meetings inside the police station, the mob waiting outside turned aggressive.

The two groups, after indulging in verbal duel and raising aggressive slogans then started moving towards each other and the cops present there found themselves outnumbered. A heavy police force was deployed from other police stations and even various senior police officials also rushed to the spot.

However, the situation went out of control and the two groups started pelting stones at each other. Both groups also hit the cops sandwiched between the two. 

A senior SP rank official was also among the cops who sustained injuries. The cops then opened fire in the air. After shooting dozens of bullets in the air, the cops also resorted to lathicharge to disperse the violent mob.

Though Moga SSP Jatinder Singh Khaira had reached much before, later Ferozepur range DIG Mohneesh Chawla also visited the town.

Hardline members of the Sikh community are objecting to the movie all across the state

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