Nawanshahar (Punjab), June 03: The five female victims of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, who had threatened self immolation in front of Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh's residence today dispersed along with their supporters from here this evening following an assurance from the authorities that the chief minister would meet them within 10 days, an official spokesman said. The five women and their supporters were earlier detained by the police when they made a brief halt at a shrine enroute to Chandigarh.
The dispersal came after about six hours when civil and police officers, including DIG, Jalandhar range Rohit Chaudhary, local Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Police SS Sandhu and V Neerja met the protestors and conveyed the assurance to them, the spokesman said.
Meanwhile, in Chandigarh the police had made elaborate arrangements by deploying additional forces, a fire tender and an ambulance outside the chief minister's residence in the high security Sector 2, sources said.
Police had also been deployed in strength at the Matka Chowk where protestors normally headed for the high security area are stopped.
The riot victims had alleged that even after a gap of two years, none of their demands, including allotment of shops and flats, were fulfilled by both the Center and the Punjab govt, forcing them to take the drastic step. Bureau Report