Chandigarh: The Punjab police have reportedly booked more than 4000 persons in various FIRs registered across the Doaba region of the state. The Bandh was called by SC/ST groups against the dilution of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
The FIRs are registered against ‘unknown’ persons under The police have invoked Section 188 (Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 8B (Punishment for mischief by injury to national highway) of National Highway Act 1956.
In some cases section 145 (joining an unlawful assembly), 283 (danger or obstruction in public way or line of navigation) and 431 (mischief by injury to public road, bridge, river or channel) of the Indian Penal Code are also invoked in the FIRs.
The Banga City police has registered one such FIR on April 2 against 6 unknown persons for blocking Garhshankar Chowk Banga and staging a protest at main road near Garhshankar bus stand. The FIR is registered on the complaint of a police personnel.
A report in The Tribune (TT) quotes, Jalandhar rural SSP Gurpreet Singh Bhullar saying as: “We have booked 1,000 persons, but haven’t named anyone so far. But we have proof. It is mandatory for us to file the FIR. We will soon start investigating the matter and identify the agitators.”
Leaders of Opposition parties have flayed the state government over the registration of FIRs against protesters. The leaders of the SAD, BJP and the BSP have said that while Congress leaders themselves announced to support the bandh and also came out in large numbers, the state police went on to lodge FIRs for protests on highways.
It is notable that the Public transport was called off the roads by the state government on April 2 in wake of ‘Bhagat Bandh’ call.