By IANS,
Ludhiana : Curfew has been imposed in parts of Ludhiana as hundreds of migrants went on a rampage in this industrial city of Punjab Friday morning, burning several vehicles and blocking the Ludhiana-Delhi National Highway No.1 (NH-1) to protest Punjab police inaction despite them being looted repeatedly.
Curfew was imposed in five areas of Ludhiana following violence by migrants — division no. 6 and 7, Simlapuri, focal point and Sahnewal.
The mob of angry migrants set ablaze several vehicles, including two buses and an Army truck, near the industrial focal point area of Punjab’s biggest city.
The NH-1 stretch between Sherpur locality here and Sahnewal town, 25 km from here, was blocked due to the violence. The busy stretch of the highway saw huge traffic jams on both sides.
Police had to resort to cane charge, bursting teargas and even firing in the air to disperse the rampaging mobs.
Punjab’s Additional Director General of Police (law and order) J.P. Birdi told IANS: “Violence has broken out in that area. The mob has set several vehicles on fire. I am myself reaching the spot. Police reinforcements and officials are on the spot to control the situation.”
Hundreds of migrants started the protest on NH-1 Friday morning saying that police had failed to take action against a gang of bikers who had been looting them and their family members over the last few months.
Following another looting incident Thursday night, some migrants went to the area police station to get a case registered but the police reportedly did not take action.