Morcha Activists Clash with UT Police, Four Officers Injured
A clash broke out between members of the Quami Insaaf Morcha and the UT Police on the Sector 43/52 road as protesters attempted to march towards the Punjab Chief Minister's residence. The confrontation left four police personnel, including an Inspector, injured.
To prevent the protesters from advancing, the UT Police deployed tear gas shells, water cannons, and lathi charges. Among the injured officers were Inspector Jaiveer Singh, ASI Ramesh, ASI Gurjeet Singh, and Constable Jaspreet Kaur.
The protesters were demanding the release of Sikh prisoners, referred to as Bandi Singhs. Anticipating the protest, the police had bolstered security with heavy deployments along the UT border. However, some protesters breached the barricades, escalating tensions.
According to police reports, around 11 a.m., a group of approximately 70 Morcha members, led by Gurcharan Singh Bapu, marched from the Sector 52/53 road towards ISBT, Sector 43. The protesters blocked the road near the bus stand and, upon attempting to proceed further, were detained by police. Soon after, another group of about 100 protesters, armed with swords and other sharp weapons, arrived and clashed with the police. During this altercation, Inspector Jaiveer Rana, SHO of the Sector 11 police station, and ASI Ramesh sustained head injuries.
Meanwhile, a separate group of protesters advanced toward the Mattaur barrier near Sector 51. Some of these protesters, wielding swords, jumped over barricades and began pelting the police with stones, prompting law enforcement to use minimal force to disperse the crowd.
The injured officers were taken to the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital (GMSH) in Sector 16, where they received stitches and were later discharged. The police have registered three FIRs at the Sector 36 police station regarding the incident. Authorities stated that those involved in the clash were being identified and would be named in the FIRs.
The protest also caused significant traffic disruptions in the southern part of the city. Roads opposite the ISBT were closed to vehicular traffic, and buses were diverted to alternative routes.
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