Punjab Bandh: Shopkeeper Opens Fire At Protester In Moga Demonstrating Against Manipur Violence

According to the police, the mobile accessories shopkeeper got into an argument with one of the protestors and shot at the victim from his licensed revolver.

A mobile accessories shopkeeper allegedly opened fire at a protestor in Punjab’s Moga on Wednesday who urged him to shut his shop in the wake of a strike called by Dalit and Christian organisations against the Manipur violence. Several Christians and Dalit organisations on Wednesday called a ‘bandh’ to protest against the ethnic violence that has spanned for over three months now in the northeastern state of Manipur. Shops remained shut in many areas of Jalandhar and Ferozepur districts following the strike call, as per a PTI report. 

Some protestors urged shopkeepers in Moga’s Kot Ise Khan area to shut their shops when the alleged incident of shooting took place.

According to the police, the mobile accessories shopkeeper got into an argument with one of the protestors and shot at the victim from his licensed revolver, stated the report. 

The protestor was hit in the chest by the bullet and was referred to a hospital, they added. 

At other districts in the state including Jalandhar and Ferozepur, shops remained shut and protestors chanted slogans against the central government for the ethnic clashes in Manipur. 

Ahead of the bandh, police were deployed at many places across the state. 

Several markets remained shut in Jalandhar as representatives of Dalit and Christian communities staged a 'dharna' in the city' Kapurthala chowk. Police were deployed at Rama Mandi and Nakodar chowk, said officials, as per the report.  

The impact of the bandh was also visible in Ferozepur district where shops and markets remained shut at many places. 

Ahead of the strike, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Ludhiana, Varinder Singh Brar said anti-riot squads and vehicles have been deployed at several sensitive points in the city.

At least 160 people have been reported dead in the strife which began on May 3 after a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ was organised by the tribals in hill districts to oppose Meitei reservation in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) list. 

Tensions flared up after a video of two tribal women being paraded naked in Kangpokpi district on May 4, surfaced on social media last month.