Patiala violence: Police said it was in talks with the chief of the local Shiv Sena, one of the two groups involved in clashes.
Patiala violence: Police said it was in talks with the chief of the local Shiv Sena, one of the two groups involved in clashes.
Tension gripped Punjab's Patiala town on Friday after members of a group that calls itself Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) and pro-Khalistani activists clashed by throwing stones at each other and brandishing swords, prompting police to fire in the air to bring the situation near the local Kali Devi Temple under control.
Chief minister Bhagwant Mann will meet with VK Bhawra, the state's top cop, and other senior officers at 5.30 pm to review the situation.
The trouble began when radical Sikh elements came out in large numbers to oppose the Khalistan Murdabad March organised by the Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray). Harish Singla, the executive president of the outfit, led the anti-separatist march from Patiala's Arya Samaj Chowk to Kali Devi Temple.
Amid slogan-raising, Singla said: "The Shiv Sena will never allow Khalistan to be formed in Punjab or anywhere in India."
He also said banned Sikhs for Justice convener Gurpatwant Pannu had led calls to mark the foundation day of Khalistan on April 29.
The Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray) march was organised to oppose Pannu’s call.
