Punjab: Protest in Patiala against rising fuel prices; 10 Akali leaders booked

PATIALA: The Patiala Police on Tuesday registered a case against 10 Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leaders for violating social-distancing norms and causing cruelty to animals during their protest against fuel hike in Patiala.
This is the second case registered against Akali leaders in Patiala. Yesterday the police had booked Akali MLA from Sanour along with president of Youth Akali Dal, SAD urban president Patiala and former mayor of Patiala for violating social-distancing norms during their protest near the private residence of chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh in Patiala against excess fee charged by private schools.
The second case has been registered at the Kotwali police station under Sections 188, 283, 269, 270, 149 IPC & 51 Disaster Management Act and Section 11A Prevention of cruelty to animals act.
Those named in the FIR include president of Patiala urban unit of Shiromani Akali Dal, Harpal Juneja, Ravinder pal Singh @ Jonny Kholi, Jaswinder Singh Chadha, Akash boxer, Sukhbir Singh Sanour, Jaideep Goel, Gobind Badungar, Gurbaksh Singh Chahal, Avtar Singh @ Happy and Happy Lot along with some unknown persons.
According to the police despite an appeal made by officials, the Akali leaders organised a protest in Patiala during which guidelines regarding Covid-19 pandemic which included wearing masks and maintaining social distancing were violated.
The police said the Kali leaders also tortured a mule by tying him with the cart and then riding it with motorcycles a top causing torture and cruelty to the animal.
The police said during the protest the Akalis also obstructed the public way and caused inconvenience to the people, due to which the FIR has been registered against them.