Shutdown in several parts of Punjab over police action

Several parts of Punjab witnessed a shutdown today in response to a call given by sikh groups to protest against the death of two youth and police action during agitation over alleged desecration of their holy book yesterday.
The Punjab government has ordered a judicial probe into the desecration of a holy book in Faridkot district and announced a cash reward of Rs 1 crore on information leading to the arrest of those involved.
Commercial and educational establishments were today shut and transport services disrupted in various parts of the state like Faridkot, Moga, Muktsar, Jalandhar and parts of Amritsar and Tarn Taran where an uneasy calm prevailed, officials said.

Kotkapura town in Faridkot, the nerve centre of protest yesterday, observed a complete bandh.
Activists of various sikh groups held protests and blocked roads at a number of places. 150 protestors were taken into custody when they tried to hold a demonstration in Ludhiana.
"No incident of violence has been reported from any part of Moga, Faridkot and Muktsar," police said.

Heavy police force had been deployed at sensitive places to maintain law and order, a day after two persons were killed and 75 others, including an IGP, were injured in clashes in Faridkot, Moga and Sangrur districts.
To protest the killing and police action, radicals, including Damdami Taksal and Gurmat Sidhant Parcharak Sant Samaj had given a 'Punjab bandh' call for today.

Sikh activists blocked traffic at Smalsar on Moga- Kotkapura road at Himmatpura on Moga-Barnala road at Kotisekhan on Moga-Amritsar road, Jogewala on Moga-Ferozepur road, at Jalalabad east on Moga-Jalandhar road, Bughipura on Moga-Barnala road, Lunggiwind Kotisekhan Zira road, Gill village on Moga-Kotkapura road and Ajitwal on Moga-Ludhiana national highway, police said.