M A I N   N E W S

Mann, 14 others arrested
Tribune Reporters

Sangrur, March 24
Mr Simranjit Singh Mann, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), along with 14 other members and office-bearers of his party was arrested today by the district police at Dirba, about 26 km from here. They were arrested under Sections 107 and 151 of the Cr PC. Later, they were produced before the Sunam Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM), who remanded them in judicial custody for two days.

Mr Mann along with his supporters were arrested after the Akali conference held at Dirba today. Mr Mann at the rally allegedly made a provocative speech in connection with the “Bharat Uday Yatra” of Mr L.K. Advani for desrupting the same.

Mr Gurinder Singh Dhillon, SSP, Sangrur, said Mr Mann and others were arrested to maintain law and order in connection with the yatra.

Mr Dhillon stated that before arresting Mr Mann he (Mann) was given a chance by the police to give up his idea of disrupting the yatra but he remained adament. However, he did not allow the mediapersons to meet Mr Mann at the Sangrur Forest Rest House, where they had been lodged. Earlier, the conference was addressed by Mr Gopal Singh Jawanda, Mr Paramjit Singh Khalsa, Mr Malkiat Singh Khetla and Mr Satnam Singh Behru, all leaders of the party.

Chandigarh: As many as 142 activists of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), were detained in Punjab before the Bharat Uday Yatra of the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Lal Krishan Advani, could enter the state late on Wednesday evening.

According to a spokesman for the Punjab police, preventive action under Section 151 of the CrPC was initiated as Akali Dal (Amritsar) had given a call to disrupt the yatra at Khamano, by organising a demonstration there.

As many as 29 Dal activists were detained at Fatehgarh Sahib while 21 were rounded up in Ludhiana. Preventive arrests were also made in Batala (four), Jalandhar (12), Hoshiarpur (nine), Kapurthala (17), Nawanshahr (five), Fatehgarh Sahib (29), Ludhiana (21), Khanna (two), Jagraon (12), Ropar (12) and Moga (five).

Meanwhile, according to a report from New Delhi, the SAD (A) on Wednesday sought the intervention of the Election Commission for the release of its party president and candidate for the Sangrur parliamentary constituency Simranjit Singh Mann and Ropar constituency candidate Bagh Singh following their arrest by the Punjab Government. 

SAD (Amritsar) approaches EC over Mann’s arrest
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, March 24
The Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) today sought the intervention of the Election Commission for the release of its party president and candidate for the Sangrur parliamentary constituency Simranjit Singh Mann and Ropar constituency candidate Bagh Singh following their arrest by the Punjab Government.

They were arrested following their threat to disrupt the rath yatra of Deputy Prime Minister and senior BJP leader L K Advani as it entered the state.

“We urge the EC to take notice of this development and ask the Punjab Government to set free them,” the party petition said.