Patiala, Punjab (March 28, 2012): As per reports clashes between protesting Sikhs and members of another community near Arya Samaj area of Patiala has turned the situtation tense in the city where Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana is lodged at Central Jail.
Earlier today police and para military forces in large numbers were deployed in the city and the surroundings of Central Jail, Patiala were fortified with newly created check-posts.
The clash is reported to have taken place at Arya Samaj chowk, a largely Hindu populated area. Sources revealed that the members of Hindu community objected to the slogans raised in favor of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana which instigated the verbal clash. Verbal clash soon turned to be violent and stones were exchanged by both sides. Five persons are reported to have sustained injuries during the process. The situation was later overpowered by the para-military and police force.
Media reports have suggested that more than 60,000 security persons are deployed in Punjab and special control rooms are stations all over the Punjab to keep an eye on activities in public and private.
Bandh Complete and Successful:
Successful Bandh in Punjab - A view of Bus Stand of Amritsar City
Sikhs in large numbers took out on streets against proposed hanging of Bhai Balwant Singh Rajoana
Reports from all across the Punjab suggest that Punjab bandh was complete. Sikhs in large numbers held demonstrations at various cities and towns of Punjab, including Patiala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Phagwara, Amritsar, Bathinda, Firozpur, Gurdaspur, Mukerian, Dasuya, Tanda, Bhogpur, Kapurthala, Nawanshehr, Roapar.