Sikhs end protest near Chandigarh

Scores of Sikhs, holding a protest at an entry point to Chandigarh from Punjab, ended their stir on Saturday.

The protest was held in connection with recent incidents of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib and subsequent incidents of violence which left two people dead and several others injured.

Sikh leaders, who led the protest, said that a meeting of various Sikh organizations would also be held in Jalandhar on Saturday to decide the future course of action.

The protestors also collected a bowl of blood and handed it over to the Chandigarh Police for the same to be sent to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

The protestors, who had started their march from Gurdwara Fatehgarh Sahib near Sirhind, 60 km from here, and were heading towards the house of chief minister, were stopped by police near the Mohali-Chandigarh barrier on Friday afternoon.

They started a sit-in protest at the barrier itself. The protest was lifted on Saturday morning.

Akali Dal MP Prem Singh Chandumajra and Punjab finance minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa had met with protesting Sikh leaders at the barrier on Friday.

The protestors, led by Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, are demanding release of two brothers arrested by the Punjab Police recently on allegations of sacrilege of the Sikh holy book, immediate action against police officials involved in firing and killing of two youths and sacking of the Sikh high priests.

Punjab has been witnessing violent protests and roadblocks by Sikh activists against the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib.

Authorities were forced to deploy para-military forces in five districts following the turmoil.