MALERKOTLA: Tension gripped Punjab's Malerkotla town, which has a sizeable Muslim population, after some miscreants threw acid on cows a few days ago, and BJP and some Hindu groups issued a bandh call on Monday and staged a protest march.With Muslim community observing Ramzan fast and Hindu organizations deciding to stage a protest march against attack on cows, heavy police force was deployed to prevent any untoward incidents. Police rounded up over 100 activists of Hindu organizations.
The town had not witnessed communal violence even during Partition. Acid was thrown on three cows around 20 days ago and police had registered a case against unknown persons. Hindu groups wanted to stage a march in the town on Monday to protest against the police failure to arrest the culprits. Many units of Gau Rakshak Dal had confirmed participation in the protest. Security was increased in the town following the bandh call and All India Gau Rakshak Dal president Satish Kumar was taken in custody. Sangrur SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu, however, said the situation was under control.