CHANDIGARH: Eleven buses were set afire 19 others damaged and 40 persons injured Thursday as mobs protesting the merger of Panipat district with Karnal district went on rampage at Panipat.
The local bar association had organized a sit-in to protest the recent decision of the Congress-I ministry to disband Panipat district and merge it with Kamal district.
The protestors who had given a call for the observance of black day Thursday on the occasion of the 45th Independence Day did not allow the state agriculture minister Nirmal Singh to reach the venue to unfurl the national flag. In his place P.K. Das additional deputy commissioner Panipat unfurled the flag.
Road traffic on the Sher Shah Suri Delhi Ambala national highway was also blocked by the protestors since morning.
A clash took place as the police tried to disperse the mob which immediately went on a rampage attacking buses.
The protestors stopped a deluxe bus and set it on fire after asking the passengers to alight.
Thereafter 10 more buses were set on fire and 19 others damaged. Forty persons including three policemen were injured.
Police said a section of the protestors sitting on Dharma at the main Chowk started indulging in arson and violence some vehicles were also damaged in the melee they said.
Panipat city observed a complete general strike Thursday.
WSN Service
SANGRUR: S.S.Phul editor of Khabarnana a Punjabi daily was arrested by the Sangrur police under the anti-terrorist law. The charge against the journalist is that he published certain objectionably material in his daily.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 23, 1991
