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Latest Breaking News from Punjab: Thursday 19th July 2007

Religious act draws flak

Amritsar, The participation of BJP MP Navjot Singh Sidhu in a“rudra yagya”, organised by a religious organisation in view of the start of the “sawan” on Monday, has received flak from various Sikh organisations.
Former Jathedar of Akal Takht Bhai Ranjit Singh said here today that Sidhu had violated the Sikh maryada by wearing a sacred thread and dhoti during the yagya.

Dera followers attacked

Ludhiana, Tension gripped the city today when a group of about 50 Sikh youths attacked the house of a Dera Sacha Sauda follower at Lohara village. The group prevented the dera followers from holding ‘naam charcha’. They beat up the “premis”, including women, and ransacked the house of a premi, Mukhtiar Singh, where the followers had met.
The administration deployed police at the site to prevent escalation of tension. A case under Sections 323, 452 and 506 of the IPC for trespassing, beating and criminal intimidation has been registered.
The police refrained from imposing Section 295 against the attackers. The section would have charged them with hurting religious sentiments of the complainant.
Mukhtiar Singh and two others were injured in the attack. He said all followers of the dera host congregations once a year. Today was his turn.
SSP R. K. Jaiswal said two assailants had been identified. "Raids were on to arrest them”, he said. He asserted that all citizens , irrespective of their religion, were safe and the police was protecting them.