Christian, Dalit bodies hold protests in Punjab against Manipur violence
The impact of the Punjab bandh call was also visible in Ferozepur district where shops and markets at several places remained shut. In Moga, protesters said they will appeal to shopkeepers to keep their shops closed in protest against the violence in Manipur.
Several Christian and Dalit bodies Wednesday held demonstrations at several places including Jalandhar, Ferozepur and Moga as part of their ‘Punjab bandh’ call against the Manipur violence. Shops remained shut in many areas of Jalandhar and Ferozepur districts as protesters shouted slogans against the central government for the violence in the northeastern state.
Ahead of the bandh call given by different Dalit and Christian organisations, police were deployed at many places in the state. In Jalandhar, several markets remained shut with representatives of Dalit and Christian communities staging a ‘dharna’ in the city’ Kapurthala chowk. Police were deployed at Rama Mandi and Nakodar chowk, said officials.
The impact of the Punjab bandh call was also visible in Ferozepur district where shops and markets at several places remained shut. In Moga, protesters said they will appeal to shopkeepers to keep their shops closed in protest against the violence in Manipur.
A police officer in Moga said adequate security arrangements have been made in the city. In Ludhiana, however, markets and other commercial establishments remained open. Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, Varinder
Singh Brar said anti-riot squads and vehicles have been deployed at several sensitive points in the city.
In Malerkotla, the bandh passed off peacefully. Though traffic on roads was normal, most shops remained closed till 4 pm. The main “sabzi mandi” and all shops in the grain market too remained closed.
Members of Muslim Federation, Muslim-Sikh federation, Christian community and people from all walks of life took part in the protest organised at grain market of Malerkotla. Malerkotla AAP MLA Jameel-ur-Rehman also participated in the dharna. Mubeen Farooqi from Muslim Federation Punjab said, “Our religious and political leaders need to speak out whenever minorities are suppressed. But they speak only during elections. We all need to join hands in order to stop the suppression of minorities.”
Avtar Singh Jhall, a city resident, said, “I strongly feel that the incidents in Nuh was created to divert our attention from Manipur violence.” Wasim Sheikh from Muslim-Sikh federation said, “Now, minorities will not stay quiet. This one-day peaceful bandh is a message to the Centre that we all are together, and we seek action against the culprits of Manipur.”
Rehman said, “The anti-social elements don’t have a religion, they just want to disturb peace. I took part in the dharna in Malerkotla, and everything was peaceful.” People also staged a protest march in the markets of Malerkotla.
Heavy police force had been deployed on highways and no-one was allowed to stage any protest on the highway, which was also closed for general traffic for a day as a precautionary measure. The traffic was being diverted from the city.
More than 160 people have lost their lives and several have been injured since ethnic violence broke out in Manipur on May 3, after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was held in the hill districts to protest against the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status.
Tension ratcheted up further after a video purportedly shot on May 4 surfaced online, showing two women from one of the warring communities being paraded naked by a group of men from the other side. Meiteis account for about 53 per cent of Manipur’s population and live mostly in the Imphal valley, while tribals, including Nagas and Kukis, constitute 40 per cent and reside mostly in the hill districts.
The article is published on indianexpress.com
