Ambala: Tension prevailed in Ambala district on Sunday after members of the Sikh community gathered outside the Panjokhra Sahib police station on National Highway-7 (Ambala-Naraingarh) to protest the detention of two persons from Kalarheri village in connection with the alleged assault on Gursimran Singh Mand, the national president of the International Anti-Khalistan Terrorist Front (IAKTF).According to protesters, Ambala police detained Gurjot Singh and Ranvir Singh in the early hours of Sunday in connection with the Aug 7 incident at Panjokhra Sahib, in which Mand was allegedly assaulted and his vehicle extensively damaged after he reportedly hit devotees walking towards the gurdwara during Gurpurb celebrations of the eighth Sikh master, Guru Har Krishan.Following their detention, members of the Sikh community, led by representatives of the Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (HSGMC), the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), the Bharatiya Kisan Union (Charuni) and the BKU (Shaheed Bhagat Singh) assembled outside the police station and staged a protest.They demanded the immediate release of the two and registration of an FIR against Mand.HSGMC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda, SGPC member Harpal Singh Machhonda, HSGMC vice-president Gurbir Singh, BKU (Charuni) national president Gurnam Singh Charuni and BKU (SBS) president Amarjeet Singh Mohri were part of the protest.The protesters alleged that Mand had violated gurdwara protocol and hit several Sikh devotees with his vehicle, seriously injuring at least one person.They also claimed that critically injured Surinder Singh suffered multiple fractures, including fractures to his leg and backbone.Jhinda demanded that a criminal case be registered against Mand and action taken on a complaint reportedly submitted by the manager of the Gurdwara Panjokhra Sahib.The HSGMC, SGPC and farm unions’ representatives also held talks with police officials. Police initially sought one hour to resolve the matter, while the protesters gave the authorities a one-and-a-half hour deadline to release the detained persons and register an FIR against Mand.After a second round of discussion with the police, Jhinda said, “It has been decided that the detained persons will be released as there is no evidence against them and an FIR will be registered against Mand for seriously injuring Sikh devotees with his vehicle.”Kuldeep Singh, DSP, Ambala Cantonment, said the police had registered a case on Saturday and detained the two for investigation.“A large number of people from the sangat and the gurdwara committee came to discuss the case. The sangat said the persons detained by the police were innocent. We enquired into the matter and, so far, have not found sufficient evidence against them. The community wanted a proper investigation. We have released the detained persons for now due to insufficient evidence,” the DSP said.“One youth, Surinder, was injured in the incident and is admitted to Adesh Hospital. He has reportedly suffered multiple fractures. His statement will be recorded, and further action will be taken as per the law,” he added.The protesters agreed to the release of the two persons but maintained that their main demand was registration of a criminal case against Mand.Gurjot and Ranvir were subsequently brought to Gurdwara Panjokhra Sahib and released. Members of the Sikh community welcomed the youths amid slogans, performed ardas and honoured the two with siropas.Talking to the media after his release, Ranvir Singh said, “Several policemen came to my house at 4.30 am and knocked on the main gate. I opened it. They had come to arrest my son, but he was not at home. They asked me to sit in their car. I went with them as I had not committed any crime. They took me to CIA Naraingarh and kept me there until a decision was taken. They treated me well.”
