Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann and Daler Singh, chief sewadar of Gurdwara Gurparkash Sahib at Kherri in Sangrur, were today put under house arrest, days after sedition charge was slapped against them over holding a Sikh congregation near Amritsar on November 10.
The police have slapped sedition charges against 20 Sikh leaders so far who had organised Sarbat Khalsa (grand assembly of Sikhs) on the outskirts of Amritsar. Scores of Sikh leaders have been arrested and put behind bars.
Mann said the police did not allow him to step out of his residence when he wanted to meet the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner to submit a memorandum expressing sympathy with the families of victims killed in Paris terrorist attacks.
A large contingent of police led by Superintendent of Police (Detective) Rajwinder Singh Sohal reportedly arrived at Mann’s Kila Harnam Dass residence in the wee hours of Sunday but lifted the cordon late in the evening. Mann told mediapersons that he had written to French President Francois Hollande and wanted to meet the Ludhaina DC regarding the Paris attacks but was not allowed to move out of his house.
He said SDM Pooja Syal Grewal had come to receive the memorandum and assured him that she would submit it to the Chief Secretary through the Deputy Commissioner.
Mann claimed that the Punjab Police had violated the Punjab and Haryana High Court order which directed them to send a notice 10 days prior to the arrest.
Lashing out at the Badals for criticising the Congress and other political parties for participating in the Sarbat Khalsa on November 10, he said it proved that people were fed up with the “dictatorial attitude of Badals who wanted to suppress the voice of people”. He urged people not to attend the rally being organised by the SAD (Badal) on November 23.
Meanwhile, the Patiala police today thwarted the attempt of Sikh outfits to hold a meeting at the dera of Dhadrianwale on the Patiala-Sangrur road. The activists had planned to march towards the house of Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra. They have now planned to hold a rally on November 16 to protest the arrest of their leaders. “Some Sikh leaders had decided to hold a dharna and block roads leading to Rakhra’s residence. We are not taking any chance and have deputed adequate police force,” said Patiala SSP Gurmeet Chauhan. He denied taking any SAD (A) leader into preventive custody, but said: “No one will be allowed to disturb law and order.”
The police have beefed up security around jails where the Sikh leaders are housed. Each jail superintendent has at least 150 policemen under his command to ensure foolproof security. Sikh preacher Baljit Singh Daduwal, who is seen as a security threat, was shifted to Hoshiarpur jail after three jails refused to lodge him on security concerns. SAD (A) leader Dhian Singh Mand, who was named “acting jathedar” of Akal Takht, was shifted to Nabha jail.
The police have slapped sedition charges against 20 Sikh leaders so far who had organised Sarbat Khalsa (grand assembly of Sikhs) on the outskirts of Amritsar. Scores of Sikh leaders have been arrested and put behind bars.
Mann said the police did not allow him to step out of his residence when he wanted to meet the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner to submit a memorandum expressing sympathy with the families of victims killed in Paris terrorist attacks.
A large contingent of police led by Superintendent of Police (Detective) Rajwinder Singh Sohal reportedly arrived at Mann’s Kila Harnam Dass residence in the wee hours of Sunday but lifted the cordon late in the evening. Mann told mediapersons that he had written to French President Francois Hollande and wanted to meet the Ludhaina DC regarding the Paris attacks but was not allowed to move out of his house.
He said SDM Pooja Syal Grewal had come to receive the memorandum and assured him that she would submit it to the Chief Secretary through the Deputy Commissioner.
Mann claimed that the Punjab Police had violated the Punjab and Haryana High Court order which directed them to send a notice 10 days prior to the arrest.
Lashing out at the Badals for criticising the Congress and other political parties for participating in the Sarbat Khalsa on November 10, he said it proved that people were fed up with the “dictatorial attitude of Badals who wanted to suppress the voice of people”. He urged people not to attend the rally being organised by the SAD (Badal) on November 23.
Meanwhile, the Patiala police today thwarted the attempt of Sikh outfits to hold a meeting at the dera of Dhadrianwale on the Patiala-Sangrur road. The activists had planned to march towards the house of Cabinet Minister Surjit Singh Rakhra. They have now planned to hold a rally on November 16 to protest the arrest of their leaders. “Some Sikh leaders had decided to hold a dharna and block roads leading to Rakhra’s residence. We are not taking any chance and have deputed adequate police force,” said Patiala SSP Gurmeet Chauhan. He denied taking any SAD (A) leader into preventive custody, but said: “No one will be allowed to disturb law and order.”
The police have beefed up security around jails where the Sikh leaders are housed. Each jail superintendent has at least 150 policemen under his command to ensure foolproof security. Sikh preacher Baljit Singh Daduwal, who is seen as a security threat, was shifted to Hoshiarpur jail after three jails refused to lodge him on security concerns. SAD (A) leader Dhian Singh Mand, who was named “acting jathedar” of Akal Takht, was shifted to Nabha jail.
