CHANDIGARH: The Chandigarh Police have registered a case against 15 named leaders associated with Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) and 2,500-3,000 unidentified supporters in connection with the protest at Gaushala Chowk on July 29.The Chandigarh Police claimed that 15 police personnel, including SSP (UT) Kanwardeep Kaur, sustained injuries during the clash with protesters.The FIR alleges that the protesters broke police barricades, attacked security personnel, obstructed traffic and damaged government property while attempting to march towards Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence.According to the police, a large number of protesters gathered at Gaushala Chowk, at the intersection of Sectors 50/51 and 44/45, despite prohibitory orders being in force. Police claimed the protesters intended to march to the chief minister’s residence to demand the release of jailed MP Amritpal Singh and other Sikh prisoners.The gathering allegedly included people carrying posters of Amritpal Singh, while some were armed with swords, spears, axes and sticks. The police alleged that the protesters blocked the road and disrupted public movement.The FIR states that senior police officers repeatedly informed the protesters that prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force in Chandigarh and that no march or demonstration could be held without prior permission.They were also advised to shift their protest to the designated protest site at the Sector 25 Rally Ground, but allegedly refused to comply.According to the police, some of the leaders allegedly instigated the crowd to breach the barricades and continue marching. As the situation escalated, the police, after obtaining permission from the duty magistrate, resorted to mild force and used water cannons to disperse the crowd. Despite this, the protesters allegedly broke through the barricades and attacked police personnel.The FIR further alleges that some protesters climbed onto a police water cannon vehicle, damaged its nozzle and assaulted its driver, ASI Gurjeet Singh, causing a fracture to his arm. He was taken to the Government Multi-Specialty Hospital, Sector 16, for treatment.The FIR names MLA Manpreet Singh Ayal, Satinderjit Singh Gill, Kabal Singh Bhullar, Jagdeep Singh Kansala, Iqbal Singh Sandhu, Paramjit Singh Johal, former MLA Ajib Singh Makhamelpur, Chamkaur Singh Dhun, Advocate Iman Singh Khara, Jaswinder Singh Droli, Iqbal Singh Chunda, Karnail Singh Panjoli, Lakh Sidhana, Bhana Sidhu and Lakhvir Singh Lakh, along with 2,500-3,000 unidentified protesters.Police have registered the case under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 121(1), 132 and 223.The investigation is underway.Police said the incident was videographed and photographed, and that the identities of the other accused are being established through CCTV footage and other digital evidence.
