Congress, SAD leaders sustain injuries in clash over installation of effigies of Badals duo and Majithia

Ludhiana, October 11, 2016: Many Congress leaders, including Member Parliament Ravneet Singh Bittu, MLA Bharat Bhushan Ashu, DCC (Urban) president Gurpreet Gogi, were injured in a clash that took place late Monday night over getting installed the effigies of Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal, deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Punjab Cabinet Minister Bikram Singh Majithia near the grounds opposite Vardhman Mills, Chandigarh Road, Ludhiana.
According to information, the Congress leaders were getting installed the three effigies to put them to flames on Tuesday to celebrate the Dussehra festival. The Congress party leaders wanted to show their resentment against the prevailing menace of drugs across Punjab by burning effigies of Badals duo and Majithia instead of the effigies of Ravana , Meghnad, Kumbhakarna. It may be recalled here that on Monday, Bittu had sent email messages to the media stating that on the occasion of Dussehra, which signifies the victory of good over evil the District Congress Committee Ludhiana (Urban) is organising an event on Tuesday from 2 pm to 6 pm on the grounds opposite Vardhman Mills, Chandigarh Road, Ludhiana. The message had further stated that Bittu will fire the effigy of Ravana, which will also symbolise our commitment to rid Punjab of drug abuse, unemployment and the rising debt. A documentary on the menace of drugs ‘Fading Glory’ by Sadhavi Khosla, was also to be released. Besides, a song on the drug menace was also to be dedicated to the youth of Punjab.
On getting the information about the installation of the effigies of Badals duo and Majithia instead of the effigies of Ravana , Meghnad, Kumbhakarna, a large number of the SAD workers arrived there on late Monday evening following which a clash took place between the workers of two political parties. The workers from both the factions indulged into stone pelting etc, resulting to which many Congress leaders sustained injuries. The DCC (U) president Gurpreet Gogi sustained head injuries and felt on the road. He was rushed to the nearby private hospital. The wind glasses of the vehicle of Bittu were damaged in the clash. The violence remained continued for about thirty minutes, in which some SAD workers also sustained injuries, even a couple of policemen also got injured in the clash.
On receiving the information, heavy police force from different police stations across the city arrived on the spot to control the violence. It is learnt that some people were rounded up by the police from the spot. The whole episode remained continued even after 1 am on Tuesday.