AMBALA: Protest and Highway Blockade: Tensions escalated significantly in Ambala, Haryana, where hundreds of members from the Sikh community blocked National Highway 44 (GT Road) for approximately six hours to protest the arrest of two local youths.
Root Cause of Unrest: The demonstrations were triggered by police arrests following an earlier altercation on August 7 at the historic Gurdwara Panjokhra Sahib involving Gursimran Singh Mand, chief of the International Anti-Khalistan Terrorist Front.
Protesters demanded the unconditional release of the detained youths and action against Mand, alleging his vehicle had struck devotees during the initial dispute.
Police Action and Violence: As the situation intensified into the evening, police reported that some individuals in the crowd armed with sharp-edged weapons attacked security personnel.
This resulted in injuries to at least six police officers, including a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) whose thumb was severely injured by a sharp weapon, and Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC) president Jagdish Singh Jhinda.
Tear Gas and Lathicharge: To disperse the rioting crowds and clear the major traffic gridlock, Ambala police used a heavy barrage of tear-gas shells and a lathicharge, eventually restoring normal traffic flow on the highway.
Current Status: Following intervention and assurances from the Haryana Chief Minister regarding the review of the case and potential release of the detained individuals within two days, the blockade was lifted, leaving an uneasy calm across the city.
