Ludhiana: The Ludhiana police Thursday (Feb. 26) unleashed crackdown on Sikh activist Bapu Surat Singh’s hunger-strike. It is notable that Bapu Surat Singh is on fast-unto death from January 16. The police had put him under observation in Ludhiana civil hospital. As per reports the police forcefully administered drip on Surat Singh. The police also gave him liquid food through feeding tube. As per reports Bapu Surat Singh was unconscious at that time when the police force-fed him.
The police turned civil hospital of Ludhiana in to a fortress and Ravinder Jeet Singh, son of Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa, along with his supporters and visitors were taken into custody. They were kept at police station division number 2 under ‘preventive detention. A journalist – Surinder Singh of Talking Punjab, who had come to interview Bapu Surat Singh Khalsa was also arrested by the police. As per reports arrested persons were released afterwards.
The police action came within hours of announcement by the state DGP Sumedh Saini that Surat Singh Khalsa’s demand for the release of Sikh political prisoners could not be met.