Chandigarh: Punjab government on Tuesday said it
would not allow holding of any function which was likely to
jeopardise peace and communal harmony in the state.
"The government has not allowed nor would allow anyone
to disturb peace in Punjab," Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir
Singh Badal said making a statement in the state assembly on
the law and order situation in Ludhiana.
Making a detailed statement on the events surrounding
the function held by Divya Jyoti Jagran Sangthan in Ludhiana
on December 5, Badal who also holds the Home Portfolio said
that the tension arose when some organisations declared their
intent to stop this function.
"The administration did not bar these organisations from
organising their protest in a peaceful and democratic manner.
But conditions of a grave and widespread violence arose when
some uncontrolled and armed persons took advantage of the
situation and started marching towards the site of the
proposed function," he said.
An SSP, two DSPs, one inspector, three assistant sub
inspectors were seriously injured in the attack, while one
person died in the firing and 11 others were injured, he said.
He also announced a grant of Rs five lakh and a
government job to one member of the bereaved family.
On the incident involving migrant labourers in Ludhiana,
Badal said the situation arose after one migrant, who had gone
to the police station to lodge a complaint, felt "ignored".
Forty-two people have been arrested in this connection
and the government has also transferred the in-charge of the
police post who had allegedly failed to register a complaint.
Besides an inquiry has also been ordered, he said.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, December 08, 2009, 16:09