SANGRUR, July 28: The police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse an angry mob which blocked the Snagrur-Patiala road at Bhawanigarh from about 10 a.m .to 1 p.m. today in protest against the police inaction.The residents of Bhawanigarh were infuriated over the failure of the Bhawanigarh police to bring to book Malkiat Singh, Constable IRB, Sat Pal Singh an SPO and his relative Gurmail Singh whom they caught under suspician circumstances at mid-night during the `thikri pehra' launched by them. The residents have been holding thikri pehras for the last few months keeping in view the increasing thefts in Bhawanigarh.The residents suspected that the three suspects were from the Kala Kachha gang involved in thefts in Bhawanigarh.The three suspects were handed over to the police at night, but no action was taken against them. Tempers ran high against the police. Balbir Singh and Malwinder Singh, SAD leaders, persuaded the police to take action but in vain.Led by the Akali leaders, the residents blocked the road near the old bus stand.In the afternoon, the recently transferred SSP Bathinda B.K. Uppal who was on his way to join as SP Vigilance, Patiala, forced the fury of the mob who pelted stones at his vehicle. Some of his gunmen allegedly thrashed some of the agitating leaders.In the scuffle, Gurcharan Singh, ASI and three others received injuries. The SSP is also reported to have received minor injuries, according to sources.The police then resorted to lathi-charge.
