M A I N   N E W S

Bandh against massacre in the region
From Tribune Reporters

AMRITSAR, March 24 — Important markets in the walled city, including Hall Bazar, remained closed for about three hours this morning in protest against the killings of 35 Sikhs in Chatti Singhpora village in Kashmir.

Shops which had opened in the morning put up their shutters as a large number of youths from Sikh organisations went through various markets asking the shopkeepers to close their establishments. The youths raised slogans against the Pakistan government.

The Shiromani Akali Sewa Dal was among the organisations which participated in the demonstration. The markets that observed the bandh included Katra Jaimal Singh, Katra Ahluwalia, Farid Chowk, Shastri Market, Hall Gate Newspaper Market and bazaars in the vicinity of the Golden Temple.

The CPI’s district unit today alleged that the Chatti Singhpora incident was being given a communal colour by certain political parties. It appealed to the Deputy Commissioner to call an all-party meeting to hold a joint agitation in protest against the massacre.

Meanwhile, the Sikh Lawyers Association at its emergency meeting expressed shock and concern over the massacre of 35 Sikhs at Chatti Singhpora. Mr R.S. Bindra, president of the association, in a press note issued on Friday, demanded that the victim families be fully compensated and rehabilitated by the state government.

The association condemned the state and Central Government for ‘failing’ to provide security to members of the minority community.

ROHTAK: A large number of local residents, including Sikhs, took out a silent procession in the town on Friday in protest against the massacre of 35 Sikhs in Kashmir valley.

The demonstrators led by Mr Kuldeep Singh and Mr Avtar Singh of Nanak Naam Sewa Sangat and Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, Rohtak, submitted a memorandum in the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Mr Harpal Singh Malik, Additional Deputy Commissioner, received the memorandum.

The protesters demanded adequate safety and security for the minority community in Jammu and Kashmir. Mr Shadi Lal Batra, Congress MLA, and Mr Pradip Jain, district BJP chief, were among those who took part in the protest march. They held Pakistan responsible for the killing.

PATIALA: The World Sikh Intellectual Council held an emergency meeting under the chairmanship of Prof Baldev Singh Balluana on Friday and condemned the killing of Sikhs in the valley.

A council press note here said anti-national elements had created terror in the area and government agencies had failed to protect the life and property of peace-loving people.

The council appealed to the government to provide immediate financial relief to the affected families and provide employment to the male members in the armed forces to instil further confidence in the minority community.

LUDHIANA: A large number of Muslims on Friday organised a rally at field Ganj Chowk in protest against the massacre of Sikhs.

While addressing the rally, Mr Atik-ur-Rehman, president of the Indian Muslim Council, Punjab, said that there was a deep-rooted conspiracy behind this carnage to create a communal divide between the Sikhs and Muslims. He said that Pakistan could never get Kashmir by aiding and abetting this proxy war in the valley.

He later submitted a memorandum to the President of India through the SDM, Mr Kuldip Singh, demanding that the Farooq Abdullah government in the state be removed as it had failed time and again to protect the interests of the people.

PHILLAUR: On a call given by different political, social, religious parties and other organisations, a complete bandh has observed here on Friday.

All shops and business centres remained closed. A protest march and demonstration was also organised.

MOGA: All business activity came to a halt here on Friday as a bandh was observed in protest against the killing of 35 Sikhs in Jammu and Kashmir.

All commercial establishments and shops remained closed and even rehriwalas, fruit sellers and hoteliers observed a bandh.

Later, several thousand persons belonging to all communities staged demonstrations in the main bazaars of the town and blocked traffic on the Moga-Ludhiana-Ferozepore chowk for about an hour.

BATALA: This industrial town observed a bandh on Friday on a call given by religious bodies like the Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Daiwk Prathana Sabha, Singh Sabha, and SGPC.

Earlier, a public meeting was held at Nehru Gate.

MALERKOTLA: Mrs Sajida Begum, general secretary of the Punjba Pradesh Congress Committee, has condemned the massacre of 35 Sikhs at Anantnag. She demanded the resignation of Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah. She told the mediapersons that she would go to the village on March 31 to attend the bhog ceremony of the victims with thousands of members of the PPCC.