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Violence unabated in Jalandhar

Jalandhar June 7. Violence continued unabated for the third successive day here today with more areas being brought under curfew. Mobs damaged at least 10 buses, while police registered cases against 14 persons, including the Punjab BJP vice-president, Vijay Sampla, even as the ongoing clashes between Jat Sikhs and Dalits assumed political overtones.

While a clash took place this morning in curfew-bound Talhan village and mobs smashed window panes of about 10 buses in Deep Nagar and Paragpur area, the main political opponents Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and the BJP sought a judicial probe into the caste clashes, accusing the Chief Minister, Amarinder Singh of ``failing to maintain law and order.''

Authorities clamped curfew in areas of Buta Mandi, Bhargo Camp, Abadpura, Siddharth Nagar, Ravi Dass Nagar, Jyoti Chowk and Nakodar Chowk in the wake of overnight violence in several places in the city, police said.

Besides Mr. Sampla, police have booked the district BSP chief, Pawan Tinu, the Dalit Action Committee president, Channu Ram, committee member, Lahori Ram and 10 others on charges of rioting and attempt to murder.

PTI

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