Phagwara: Representatives of Muslim, Sikh and Dalit organisations who had confronted Shiv Sena members when they attacked a mosque in Phagwara on July 22, on Friday announced the formation of an 11-member coordination committee to pressure the administration to arrest the accused.
In a press conference on Friday, the committee announced that if Sena leaders booked by the police were not arrested by August 4, they would announce further course of action the next day. The committee said withdrawing and downscaling security given to some Shiva Sena leaders was not enough.
Punjab Congress secretary Jarnail Nangal, who is a part of the committee, said while Phagwara deputy superintendent of police (DSP) K P S Chahal had been suspended following the demand of Shiv Sena and the superintendent of police (SP) was also transferred, the real culprits who created trouble were still roaming free. Phagwara mosque imam Avaim-ur-Rehman said withdrawal of gunmen of those named in the FIR was not enough. “They had been targeting the community repeatedly and want to vitiate the atmosphere of the whole state,” they said.
Clashes in Phagwara after Shiv Sena activists tried to attack mosque
Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and former councillor Kusum Sharma said the other groups only retaliated by joining hands. Ambedkar Sena leader Harbhajan Suman questioned why was it only the Shiv Sena that was getting into showdowns with different religious groups. On July 22, Sikhs and Dalits had joined hands with Muslims after Shiv Sena members attempted to attack a mosque in Phagwara. According to the case registered by the police against eight identified Shiv Sena leaders and 40-50 unidentified persons, the clash took place after they pelted stones on mosque, abused Muslims, attacked them and their shops.
Source: Times of India