The Hindu : National : One held for attack on student

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Friday, Aug 25, 2006

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National

One held for attack on student

Special Correspondent

— Photo: AP

EXPRESSING OUTRAGE: Sikh activists shout slogans during a protest in Mumbai on Thursday.

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan police on Thursday arrested Arjun, the main accused in the case of forcibly cutting the hair of a Sikh boy here, on Monday. Arjun, arrested in Delhi, has been brought here.

Police sources here said that Arjun, one of the six persons accused of attacking the student, is likely to be produced in court here on Friday.

The immediate arrest of the culprits who had come in a car to attack the student on his way back home from school was one of the three demands made by the Sikh community. An indefinite dharna, held in front of the Raja Park Gurdwara here, has been called off after an assurance from Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje that action would be taken.

"The entire Sikh community is indebted to her. We express our gratitude to the Chief Minister," Harnek Singh, general secretary of the Rajasthan Sikh Samaj, told The Hindu. "We appreciate the quick action by the police and the State administration," he said.

SGPC president Avatar Singh Makkar and BJP MP from Amritsar, Navjot Singh Siddhu, who were here to hold talks with Ms. Raje in this connection, have gone back.

Cases under various sections of the Indian Penal Code have been filed against Arjun and the other accused.

Demonstrations held

Hundreds of Sikhs staged demonstrations and blocked traffic in Dehra Dun, Rudrapur and Haldwani seeking immediate action against the persons responsible for the incident.

In Haldwani, irate youth forced closure of shops. In Dehra Dun, Uttaranchal Sikh Federation president Gurdip Singh Toni said the entire community had been shocked at the attack on the boy and sought immediate action against the anti-social elements.

Akali Dal leader Gurpal Singh urged the Rajasthan Chief Minister to order swift and stern action against the culprits as that alone could restore confidence amongst the Sikhs.

Storm in Parliament

Special Correspondent reports from New Delhi:

The issue rocked Parliament on Thursday even as Home Minister Shivraj Patil assured agitated members in Rajya Sabha of strong action against the culprits and those who abetted the crime.

Speaker Somnath Chatterjee condemned the incident in the Lok Sabha, but had to adjourn the House twice on the issue.

Trying to assuage the sentiments of the BJP member, S.S. Ahluwalia, who raised matter during zero hour in the upper house, Mr Patil said the whole House associated with him and condemned the incident.

Cautioning against fanning religious sentiments, he said ``the Rajasthan government was doing what needs to be done and if it doesn't, we will give necessary directions.''

Congress member Madhusudan Mistry raised the matter in Lok Sabha and sought the dismissal of the Rajasthan Government for failing to protect the interest of the minorities in the State.

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