Chandigarh: Punjab Police on Monday cracked down on hardline elements demanding release of Sikh prisoners lodged in jails across the country. The police action follows a CNN-IBN report that the Centre had expressed concerns to the Punjab government over attempts to revive militancy in the state and had asked for extra caution.
The Ruling Shiromani Akali Dal-led government said that peace would be maintained in the state and there is no chance of militancy being revived.
Police on Monday also shifted the fasting Sikh hardliner Surat Singh Khalsa to a hospital in Ludhiana.
Khalsa is on fast since January 16 seeking release of political prisoners, a demand which is being backed by radical outfits leading to a major standoff between the state government and the hardliners.
On Sunday Punjab Police had stopped a group of Sikhs from taking out a march from Ajnala to Akal Takht in Amritsar in support of Bapu Surta Singh following which there was a clash between the force and protesters.
On Saturday, Tota Singh, Punjab Minister for NRI Affairs, and his delegation came under attack in New York in the USA as hundreds of Sikhs protesting his visit allegedly threw stones and hurled a shoe at the leaders.
The North American Sikh groups said in a statement that they are opposing SAD (Badal) for their failure to convict Indian police officers, who were involved in alleged extra judicial killings of Sikhs during counter insurgency operations in early 1990s.
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