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FARIDKOT: At least two people were killed and over 100 people, including cops, injured during clashes between Sikh community protestors and police over an alleged incident of desecration in Faridkot district of Indian Punjab, according to reports published on The Hindu and the Hindustan Times websites.
Sikhs belonging to Faridkot and its adjacent Moga district in Indian Punjab have been holding protests for past two days after more than 100 torn up pages from Guru Granth Sahib, the Sikh holy book were found near a gurdwara in Bargari village of the district on Monday.
The holy book was reportedly stolen from the Gurdwara in June.
Two people were killed in violent clashes between the police and protesters at Vaibhal Kalan village, 10 kilometres from Kotkapura, the biggest city of district.
Police used batons and water cannons to disperse the protestors. Meanwhile, Bathinda's Inspector General of Police was also wounded during the clashes.
The police said they had arrested Sikh leaders including Bhai Ranjit Singh Dhadriyan Wale, Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala, Panth Preet Singh, Jaskaran Singh Kahan Singh Wala and members of the Parmeshar Dwar Trust, Nirvair Khalsa Jatha and Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj.
Meanwhile, around 75 members of the Sikh community were also arrested in Ludhiana over fears that they could block roads, police said.
On Tuesday, a violent clash between the police and protesters at Buttar Kalan village in Moga district also left 19 people injured. Nearly 200 protestors belonging to the Sikh community were also arrested by policemen, who were later released.
Indian Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal appealed to the people to remain peaceful while heavy police force has been deployed in the district to avoid any untoward incident.
The CM assured people that those found guilty of sacrilege would not be spared.
