Chandigarh: Police have lodged several First Information Reports after a march by the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha (QIM) on Independence Day descended into violence, naming 21 people including Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar) chief Simranjit Singh Mann and his son Emaan Singh Mann, officials said on Sunday.
Allegations and arrests
According to police sources, demonstrators sought to force their way into the city despite prohibitory orders and attempted to penetrate layered barricades set up by the police near Punjab Lok Bhawan. Law enforcement officers said some marcher groups assaulted personnel and tried to breach cordons at several points, including Heera Singh Chowk.
The chief of SAD (Amritsar), Simranjit Singh Mann, was taken into custody along with three associates identified as Dpinder Partap Singh, Gopal Singh and Gurpreet Singh. Police said Mann sought to evade the security cordon by travelling in an ambulance while concealing his identity with head bandages, posing as a patient.
In a separate action, Emaan Singh Mann, a resident of Fatehgarh Sahib, was among eight persons detained in another case after a large assembly formed near Punjab Lok Bhawan as part of the march, officials added.
Legal provisions invoked
Police registered multiple FIRs at different stations. One complaint, recorded at Police Station North by ASI Varinder Singh, has been registered as FIR Number 96. It invokes Sections 217, 223, 353(1)(b) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and Section 9 of the Punjab Security of State Act, 1953, the sources said.
A second FIR at the same police station, recorded on the complaint of SI Vivek Kumar as FIR Number 97, names eight people and invokes Section 223 of the BNS. In a further case registered at Police Station Sector 36, investigators have invoked 12 sections of the BNS along with provisions of the Arms Act and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act against several QIM leaders, including Bapu Gurcharan Singh, Lakha Sidhana, Amitoz Mann and Baljit Singh Khalsa.
| FIR Number | Police Station | Key Sections Invoked | Notable Accused |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96 | North | 217, 223, 353(1)(b), 3(5) BNS; Sec. 9, Punjab Security of State Act | Simranjit Singh Mann; Dpinder Partap Singh; Gopal Singh; Gurpreet Singh |
| 97 | North | 223 BNS | Emaan Singh Mann; seven others |
| 137 | Sector 36 | 12 BNS sections; Arms Act; PDPP Act | Bapu Gurcharan Singh; Lakha Sidhana; Amitoz Mann; Baljit Singh Khalsa; others |
Police response and crowd-control measures
Officials said barricades were erected at multiple locations to prevent the marchers from advancing toward government premises. In what police described as an unprecedented step for the city, drones were deployed to release tear-gas canisters on groups that tried to storm a barrier at the Mattour checkpoint on the dividing road between Sectors 51 and 52.
Security personnel reported that some protesters attempted to break through barriers using weapons including swords, axes and spears while chanting slogans demanding the release of Sikh prisoners. The situation prompted a series of arrests and the registration of cases invoking public order and weapons-related offences, police said.
Charges and next steps
The FIRs allege violation of district magistrate-issued prohibitory orders and obstruction of police in the discharge of their duties. The registered cases carry a range of offences under the new criminal code and state security legislation; investigators said further action and additions to the charges are possible as probe continues.
- 21 people have been booked across multiple FIRs following the QIM march on August 15.
- Senior QIM and SAD (Amritsar) leaders are among those named in the complaints.
- Drones were used to deploy tear-gas canisters to disperse groups attempting to breach barricades.
Police sources characterised the incidents as serious breaches of public order and said they are coordinating continued investigation and legal processing of the accused. No comments from the Qaumi Insaaf Morcha or from the named political leaders were available in the police statements provided to investigators.
