The bandh call given by the Ravidassia community to protest against Supreme court’s decision to demolish Guru Ravidas Temple in Delhi recently, evoked a strong response in the district as all the shops, commercial establishments and educational institutions remained shut.
Activists led by Bhagwan Singh Sidhu, general secretary, BSP, Ashok Sallan, state president Begampura Tigre Force, Binder Saroya, Inqlabi Tiger Force, Satpal, district president, Shiromani Sri Guru Ravidass Sabha, Hoshiarpur, Sh. Jaswinderpal, District President Guru Ravidass Force, Anil Kumar Bagha, president Ambedkar Force Punjab, Vikas Hans, president, Bhagwan Valmik Dharam Raksha Samti, Kewal Singh, president, Gurdwara Committee Tapasthan Sri Guru Ravidass Ji, village Khuralgarh, staged protest dharnas at various places in the district in their respective area.
Vehicular traffic on the national and state highways was blocked at various places in the district as protestors laid siege to these roads.
The protestors, especially youths, in groups were seen wielding swords, lathis etc. while moving in the city on their motorcycles to enforce the bandh.
According to police sources, a clash between some shopkeepers and protestors took place at Adda Mansar on Jammu-Jalandhar national highway when some protestors damaged three shops opened out of about 45 shops there. The shopkeepers forced the protestors to flee leaving their motorcycles behind.Meanwhile, protestors called out to their supporters. On their reaching, both sides started hurling stones at each other.
SSP, Hoshiarpur, Gaurav Garg claimed that the police timely intervened and defuse the situation. The situation is under control and police force had been deployed in the area. No other untoward incident had been reported from other parts of the district so far, he claimed.
