Now Reading: Tear gas, water cannons disperse Quami Insaaf Morcha march in Chandigarh
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Tear gas, water cannons disperse Quami Insaaf Morcha march in Chandigarh
Chandigarh Police used tear gas and water cannons on Saturday to disperse Quami Insaaf Morcha protesters marching from Mohali towards the Governor House. The protesters were demanding the release of Sikh prisoners…
The Story in Brief
Chandigarh Police used tear gas and water cannons on Saturday to disperse Quami Insaaf Morcha protesters marching from Mohali towards the Governor House. The protesters were demanding the release of Sikh prisoners who have spent prolonged periods in jail. The confrontation took place near the Sector 51 and 52 dividing road, where police had put up barricades. Some protesters stood on overturned barricades, while others tried to cross them. HT reported that one or two people were carrying lathis.
The Morcha says some prisoners have served terms longer than their prescribed sentences. SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami backed the march and sought parole for Jagtar Singh Hawara to meet his seriously ill mother. Hawara urged supporters to protest peacefully, though HT said it could not independently verify his video.
The Indian Opinion
The easy narratives are already visible: that every protester was violent, or that police action alone proves the prisoners’ claims. The reports establish neither. They show a confrontation at barricades, a stated demand for prolonged incarceration to be reviewed, and a police response involving force. The fair test is whether authorities publish clear, case-by-case reasons for continued detention and whether future marches can proceed without violence. For Hawara’s parole request, the decision and its stated legal grounds will be the concrete measure.
Sources (3): deccanherald.com, hindustantimes.com, odishatv.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the 3 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 3 sources.
