The main accused in the clashes in Punjab’s Patiala, Barjinder Singh Parwana, was among three more people arrested in connection with the violence that had left four people injured, the Punjab Police said on Sunday.
Two groups had clashed on Friday last over an anti-Khalistan march, hurling stones at each other and brandishing swords, forcing police to fire in the air to bring the situation under control.
Addressing the media here, Inspector General of Police (Patiala range) Mukhwinder Singh Chhina said, “The main accused Barjinder Singh Parwana has been arrested from Mohali.”
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Parwana will be presented before a court here to seek his police remand for further questioning, said Chhina.
A resident of Rajpura in the district, Parwana is one of the masterminds of Friday's incident, according to the police.
Chhina said Shankar Bhardwaj, who is an accomplice of Harish Singla, and one Jaggi Pandit have also been arrested.
Singla, the working president of a group called 'Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray)' has already been arrested on charges of taking out the procession without permission and instigating violence.
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Police on Saturday had said that it had arrested Singla, Daljeet Singh and Kuldeep Singh in connection with Friday's incident.
Six FIRs have been registered in the matter and a total of 25 people had been named in them.
Chhina on Sunday said police would take stern action if anyone is found trying to disturb peace and communal harmony.
The clash had taken place outside the Kali Mata temple when members of the 'Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray)' began a 'Khalistan Murdabad March'. Some Sikh activists, including Nihangs, took out another march against the Sena event. Four people were injured in the incident.
AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal had earlier said no one involved in the violence will be spared
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday said the Punjab government has taken strong action over the clashes and violence in Patiala during an anti-Khalistan march and nobody will be spared.
In reply to a question on slogans supporting creation of Khalistan during the riots there, the AAP convener said "aise kuch nahi hone denge (will not allow anything like that)".
"Nobody who has indulged in violence or spreading tension will be spared. Punjab government has taken strong action from this morning and peace has been established in Patiala. Anyone from this party or that party who will try to disturb the peace of Punjab will be dealt with strictly," Kejriwal said while interacting with reporters at Surat Airport on Saturday night.
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A group calling itself 'Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray), which had called an 'Anti-Khalistan March', and some Sikh groups clashed in front of a temple in Patiala on Friday, leaving several people injured in the violence in which stones and swords were used.
Twenty-five people were booked for the incident, while three senior police officials from Patiala region were shunted out by the AAP government under Bhagwant Mann there.
Kejriwal is on a two-day visit to Gujarat and will address a tribal rally on Sunday in Bharuch along with Bhartiya Tribal Party leader Chotu Vasava.
The Dekhi CM has also claimed the BJP would go in for early polls in Gujarat so that his party did not get enough time to prepare.(With PTI inputs)
