Two killed as protesters clash with police in Punjab

Two protesters were killed and at least 50 injured in violent clashes that erupted on Wednesday morning between the police and Sikhs at Behval village in Kotkapura in Punjab, about 240 km from here.

Police had to fire in the air to control the situation that fast turned violent on Wednesday. Several policemen, including a senior police officer, were also injured in the clash.

Hundreds of Sikhs have been protesting for the last few days against the desecration of the holy book, Shri Guru Granth Sahib. Torn pieces of the scared book found scattered on the streets of Bargari village on October 12 had flared up sentiments among the community leading to protests.

Trouble started in the morning when the protesting Sikhs had an altercation with the police. The situation flared up and the protestors pelted stones at the police and damaged at least three police vehicles. Police resorted to lathi-charge and used tear-gas shells and water cannons to disburse the crowd. . Later, protesters tried to block the national highway leading to Moga.

A copy of the Shri Guru Granth Sahib was stolen from a village Sikh shrine located 5 km from Bargari in June. Tension escalated on October 12 when torn pages of the book were spotted on the streets.

Some radical Sikh organisations have called for a shutdown in Malwa region of Punjab on Thursday to protest against the desecration.