ravneet Bittu, MLAs detained, later released
Saturday, 28/05/2016
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=157587&boxid=59695&uid=&dat=2016-05-28
Ludhiana : Protesting against the law and order situation in state, several Congressmen, including MP Ravneet Singh Bittu, MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu and DCC president Gurpreet Bassi Gogi were detained by the police after a two-hours protest outside the Mini Secretariat on Friday.
A large number of Congressmen have gathered outside the office of Police Commissioner to hand over bangles to Punjab Home Minister through Police Commissioner Jatinder Singh Aulakh, as a mark of protest. Taking a cue from the earlier protests of Congress, the police had made foolproof security arrangements and sealed the entry points to the Commissioner’s office and Mini Secretariat.
While trying to enter the office of the Police Commissioner from the main entrance of the Mini Secretariat the Congressmen were charged with water cannons and lathis by the cops. The struggle continued for two hours. During the clash with police, Gogi and many others were injured. The police detained the protesters and took them to Sarabha Nagar police station. Later, the protestors were released from police custody.
The police had to face an embarrassing situation when their tankers with canon guns atop went dry even as the protesters were holding their ground. When another water cannon vehicle was brought to disperse them, it was pelted with stones. The cops had to use mild cane charge to bring the situation under control. The cops detained MP Bittu and others and tried to ferry them in a bus to a police station but the protesters stopped the bus. Ashu made an another attempt to enter the office of the Police Commissioner, which led to a scuffle again.
Later, the police managed to take them to the police station.
Speaking on the occasion, Bittu blamed the Punjab Government for the deteriorating law and order situation in the state. He threatened to launch similar agitations in other parts of Punjab if the state government failed to perform and check the rising incidents of crime.
The CLP leader, Charanjit Singh Channi, MLAs Surinder Dawar and Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Malkiat Singh Dakha, Vice-President, PPCC, Krishan Kumar Bawa and Vikram Bajwa, both General Secretary, PPCC, Gurpreet Gogi, President, DCC, Ludhiana (Urban), Gurdev Singh Lapran, President, DCC, Ludhiana (Rural), were among those present.
Sidelights
During the two-hour protest the traffic on the Ludhiana- Ferozepur road was halted. It was diverted but commuters had to face tough time.
It was like an undeclared “holiday” in Deputy Commissioner, Police Commissioner and other offices situated in the Mini Secretariat due to security arrangements made by police.
The CLP leader Charanjit Channi and many others disappeared when the police used water cannons and lathicharged. Later, the leaders returned to get themselves clicked.
Bittu questioned that when AAP leaders stage protests the government offers them AC buses and other VIP facilities. But when it comes to Congress protests the cops use water cannons, lathis.
