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| Normal life paralysed in Punjab | | |
CHANDIGARH, MAY 22
Normal life was hit badly as educational institutions and business establishments remained shut and public transport system was off the roads in Punjab today following the day-long bandh called by Sikh High Priests to protest the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda's head alleged imitation of the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh.
The bandh has been "very peaceful" and there had been no untoward incident reported from any part of the state so far, ADGP (Law and Order) Chandersekhar told PTI.
State owned transport -- Punjab Roadways, PUNBUS and Pepsu Road Transport Corporation (PRTC) -- are not operating in the state as well as outside Punjab adversely affecting the travel plans of people, officials said.
Besides, the government-run buses from neighbouring Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan were also not operational in the state.
Essential services like health sector were not affected by the bandh, officials said.
The bandh call is not only supported by various Sikh orgnisations, including radical leaders in the state, but was also has the backing of the Parkash Singh Badal Government, sources said.
A passenger train had been stopped at Hoshiarpur and the Ludhiana-Delhi rail line was blocked at Ludhiana, sources said. The blockade was lifted after 30-minute.
A local train between Ludhiana and Amritsar was blocked by a group of protesting Sikhs, railway officials said.
A group of 'peace loving people' led by Akali Dal MLA Mantar Singh Brar held a silent march in Kotkapura urging people to maintain peace and communal harmony.
They also cautioned the people to be aware of forces allegedly bent upon disturbing the unity and integrity in the state.
Processions were taken out by various organisations of Sikhs in many parts of the state. The protesters also raised slogans against the Dera head.
The bandh was called by the Sikh clergy following a stand off between various organisations of Sikhs and followers of Dera Sacha Sauda Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh over the latter's alleged act of "blasphemy."
After an advertisement appeared in newspapers on May 13 purportedly showing Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh allegedly distributing nector while attired in the dress akin to the tenth Sikh Guru Gobind Singh sectarian strife hit the state leaving one person killed and over 50 injured.
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