News4u-News Desk-Curfew was relaxed for 90 minutes in at least three places in Ludhiana, where situation on Sunday remained peaceful, a day after violent clashes between police and Sikh protesters objecting to a religious congregation by a sect claimed one life and injured 15 others.

The curfew was relaxed for 90 minutes in areas falling under Model town, Saraba Nagar and police station division number five, officials said adding the situation remained peaceful but tense during the period.

However, strict vigil was in place in rest of the city with forces keeping an eagle’s watch on the situation.

The curfew will remain clamped till further orders to maintain peace and order, Deputy Commissioner Vikas Garg said on Sunday.

Also, the funeral of Darshan Singh (54), who was killed in the clash went off peacefully at his native Lohara village.

The Punjab Government has announced an ex-gratia grant of Rs five lakh to the next of kin of the victim, officials said in Ludhiana.

Singh along with other Sikh radicals was trying to move towards the venue of a religious function organised by Ashutosh Maharaj. When they refused to stop, police allegedly resorted to firing resulting in Singh’s death and injuries to several others.

Meanwhile, Sikh radical organisations, including Damdami Taksal, have called for Punjab shut down on Monday.

However, essential services including medical, rail and public transport have been exempted from the shut down.

In view of the shut down call, the Deputy Commissioner of Ludhiana has issued orders that all schools, colleges and other educational institutions in the district will remain closed on Monday.

While the Punjab Congress has demanded dismissal of the Parkash Singh Badal government for allegedly failing to maintain law and order in Ludhiana, the CPI said violence in the industrial city was direct result of the policy of appeasement pursued by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-BJP government towards radical Sikh organisations in the state.

Seeking imposition of President Rule, Punjab Congress spokesman Sukhpal Singh Khaira said “Badal and his son and deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal have failed to maintain peace in the state on more than one occasion.”

“The last two days’ mob violence in Ludhiana has clearly indicated the total collapse of law and order in the state,” he said.

“Akali Dal has learnt no lesson from several years of terrorism in the state. The same people are leading the radical organisations today who were once the kingpins of terrorism in its hey days,” Joginder Dayal, member of the national executive of CPI said.

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