Ralle (Mansa), November 3
The rail roko agitation organised by BKU (Ekta), Ugrahhan group today, which turned out to be a flop show otherwise, took a violent turn at this village in Mansa district. A police party led by the DSP, Mr Jangir Singh, was allegedly attacked by BKU (Ekta) activists when they were stopped at a ‘naka’ while proceeding towards Mansa town.

The police party had to fire in the air to disperse the agitated BKU activists.

Apart from the DSP, Mr Jangir Singh, 12 other policemen also suffered multiple injuries when they were attacked by the BKU activists who were in trucks. They were travelling alongwith the senior leaders of the party, including Mr Jhanda Singh Jethuke, president, Bathinda district unit of BKU (Ekta), Ugrahhan group. As many as 35 BKU activists also suffered injuries when the police resorted to lathi-charge in self defence.

Those injured, included Mr Jangir Singh, DSP, Mr Harwinder Singh, Station House Officer (SHO), Police station, Sadar, Mansa and Sub-Inspector Inderbir Sharma. Mr Jangir Singh was assaulted with stone and lathis by BKU activists. He suffered multiple injuries and was getting treatment in a private nursing home in Joga.

The BKU activists were to organise a rail roko agitation at Gidderbaha in Muktsar and Mansa towns from 12 noon to 3 p.m. to protest against the falling prices of raw cotton in the markets and to press the Centre government to stabilise the same. However, their agitation flopped due to heavy security arrangements made by the police of  these two districts. The activists could not stage a dharna at any section of the rail track. While trying to stage a dharna on the rail track in Mansa town by hoodwinking the police authorities, BKU activists tried to break the police naka at about 3.45 p.m. Armed with lathis and stones, they started pelting stones and using lathis when they were stopped by the policemen.

According to the police as many as 35 activists had been rounded up. A case under Sections 307, 353, 332, 186, 341, 148 and 149 of the IPC had been registered against 42 BKU activists. Mr Jethuke, Mr Muthu Singh Kotda, Mr Joginder Singh Maiserkhana, Mr Shingara Singh, Mr Surjeet Singh Gill Kalan, Mr Harinder Singh Maur Charatwala and Mr Darshan Singh were among those booked.

Ms V. Neerja, SSP, Mansa, said BKU activists had come prepared with stones and lathis to “attack” the naka. She said BKU activists had attacked the police party to break the naka to reach at rail track. But the policemen handled the situation diplomatically and prevented the BKU activists from going ahead. She added that the condition of all policemen was being monitored and they were being given medical treatment. The BKU activists tried to break nakas at three points in Muktsar district and jammed traffic near Maha Bhadar, Mal Katora and Husnar villages but they were not allowed to come near the rail track by the authorities.

Mr Ajaib Singh Bhatti, ADC, Mr Kishore Chand, SP, Mr Bath and Mr Sabbharwal (both SDMs) went round the whole district to keep the law and order situation under control. More than 200 activists were rounded up on Gidderbaha-Badal road while they were approaching the Gidderabaha railway station after breaking the police naka at Badal village.