A month after Phagwara clash, General Samaj to hold meeting on May 16

Hindustan Times, Phagwara | ByJatinder Mahal, Phagwara

May 14, 2018 11:27 AM IST

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A Dalit youth Yashwant Bobby was injured in clash. He succumbed to his bullet injuries on April 29.

Over a month after clashes between Dalit groups and Hindu Right-wing groups over the renaming of Gol Chowk in Phagwara on April 13, the General Samaj Manch has called a meeting of like-minded organisations, mostly Hindu groups, in the city on Wednesday (May 16).

Police had booked around 100 people, including 33 by name, under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 295-A (hurting religious sentiments), 392 (robbery), 353 (assault), 186, 427, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the Arms Act and the National Highways Act.(HT File)

“We have organised this meeting to decide our course of action against the biased attitude of the state government and the Punjab police in the Phagwara clash. They are more worried about capturing Dalit votes than delivering justice to general citizens,” Manch president Vijay Sharma claimed, adding that 3,000-4,000 people are expected to attend the meeting.

“Members of Jat Mahasabha, Brahmin Mahasabha, Vaishya Samaj, Sindhi Sabha and political leaders from neighbouring states will take part in the meeting,” he claimed. He added that the Manch had written a letter to home minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday, seeking the arrest of Dalit leaders and a departmental inquiry against officials who were incharge during the Phagwara clash.

The letter seeks the arrest of Lok Insaaf party leader Jarnail Nangal and Ambedkar Sena (Mool Niwasi) president Harbhajan Suman, accusing them of instigating the clash April 13 night, he said. A Dalit youth Yashwant Bobby was injured in clash. He succumbed to his bullet injuries on April 29.

“Police had arrested Suman in an assault case, but later gave him a clean chit. It shows that the police are under political pressure. No Dalit has been arrested for the clash, but four right-wing leaders were nabbed,” Sharma claimed.

Investigation officer, SP (headquarters) Jaskiranjit Singh Teja said, “No more arrests have been made in the case.”

There has been no decision on renaming the Gol Chowk. Police had booked around 100 people, including 33 by name, under sections 307 (attempt to murder), 295-A (hurting religious sentiments), 392 (robbery), 353 (assault), 186, 427, 148 and 149 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and provisions of the Arms Act and the National Highways Act.