Reports of Gunfire and Intense Clashes as Violence Grips Kotkapura

:dateline:As per latest information from sources in Kotkapura, at least two have been admitted to the hospital in critical condition, while many others, including policemen have sustained injuries. �Violence broke out in the city when police tried to disperse protesters using water cannons and tear gas. �Gun shots were also fired, however, police has stated that they were not aimed at protesters.

“We were sitting here doing Jap Ji Sahib path when police attacked us using water tanks. �We didn’t know which way to run. �Some tried to keep sitting, however the pressure was too high,” said Jagmahon Singh from Dhillon�from Kotkapura.

“Police had been deployed throughout�Kotkapura since yesterday. �A large number of paramilitary forces were also present, however no body had thought that force would be used to disperse the protesters,” said another protester Jagwinder Singh who had come from Fatehgarh Sahib.

Police had asked the Sikh leaders to either court arrest to end the protest. �Baba Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale, who has been leading the protests had earlier announced that all 30,000 protesters would peacefully court arrest. �”The administration reportedly called three buses to take the protesters to jail but instead of taking them to the jail the police dropped them in remote villages,” reported Paramjeet Singh of Sikh Siyasat. �After this incident, Sikh leaders refused to cooperate and called for indefinite protest until culprits of who had torn angs of Guru Granth Sahib Ji were brought to justice.

Situation remains tense throughout�Kotkapura and a curfew has been imposed in all nearby cities and villages.

Background

Protests are being carried out�due to the on-going sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib. �Three days ago, Sikh Sangat had recovered several angs of Guru Granth Sahib, torn from the original saroop at�village Bargedi near Kotkapura. �Following reports of the�sacrilege, Sikh Sangat started arriving at�Kotkapura in large numbers. �Sikhs consider Guru Granth Sahib, their holy scripture, as the living prophet.