4 hurt in Phagwara communal clash

Ashok Kaura

Phagwara, April 13

Tension gripped Phagwara late on Friday night after a group of Dalit youths installed a flex board bearing a photo of Dr BR Ambedkar and renaming "Goal Chowk" as "Sambhidhan Chowk", a move objected to by several Hindu organisations.

Four persons were injured and dozens of vehicles, including cars and scooters, were damaged in the violent clash that followed initial brawl and stone pelting. Fire shots were also heard during clashes. People of both the communities faced off and the situation became tense when police intervened.

Phagwara SP Parminder Singh Bhandhal, ADC Babita Kaler, SDM Jyoti Bala and SHO Gurmit Singh rushed to the spot to control the situation.

Meanwhile, Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayab and SSP Sandeep Sharma also reached the spot. The situation was tense till filing of this report.