M A I N   N E W S

Uneasy calm in Amritsar
Pig flesh thrown inside religious place 
Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 21
An uneasy calm prevailed in the city today after a ‘holy book’ was burnt and pig flesh thrown inside a religious place.

The Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samithi has claimed responsibility for the incident that occurred at the local Hall Bazar.

Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, SGPC, Bhai Ranjit Singh, a former Jathedar of Akal Takht, Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, President, Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) and Mr Onkar Singh Arora, a senior leader of the Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, have condemned the incident.

The Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samithi stated that the incident was in retaliation against the destruction of statues of Gautam Buddha in Bamiyan (Afghanistan) by the ruling Taliban.

Mr A.P. Pandey, Inspector-General of Police (Border), claimed the eight-member organisation believed to be behind the incident was formed a few days ago. He claimed two of the alleged suspects, Harish Sharma and Vikas Anand, alias Bablu, had been identified and would be arrested soon.

The letter-head of the Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Suraksha Samithi mentions the name of Sanjiv Bhardwaj as its national chief while Anand Sood is stated to be the chief of the Punjab chapter. Harish Sharma is the district chief of the organisation.

Maulana Hussain Qazmi blamed the administration for the incident. He said the miscreants reached the site along with press correspondents and photographers and burnt the holy book in their presence.

They were opposed by one Tilak Raj, a shopkeeper, and forced to flee.

The Punjab Wakf Board has reportedly taken serious note of the incident and sent its team to Amritsar for an on-the-spot study.

Mohammad Anwar, manager of a madarsa, alleged the incident occurred at 11.30 a.m. when students were being taught.

The police has registered a case under Sections 452, 245-A, 298, 506, 148 and 149 of the Indian Panel Code.