Bandh in Abohar, another liquor vend torched

Abohar : Life in Abohar and nearby areas came to a standstill as a complete bandh was observed over the killing of Dalit youth Bhim Tank reportedly at Akali leader Shiv Lal Doda’s farmhouse in Ramsara village.Some of those who didn’t observe the bandh were punished. A liquor shop that was found open in Ramsara village was torched and the entrance gate of an evening newspaper office, near Haqiqat Rai Chowk, was smashed.This was the fourth vend to have been targeted since December 11 when Tank’s limbs were chopped off, which led to his death. The district authorities had advised liquor vend owners to keep shops closed until the last rites of Tank were performed.
Municipal Council president Pramil Kalani, Chandigarh and Punjab Journalists Union and Nar Sewa Narayan Sewa, an NGO, said the incident was unfortunate. Newspaper editor Shiv Garg said shutters were downed partially and work had not begun.With the Bhim Tank Murder Action Committee’s bandh call receiving a strong response, markets in the old walled city and residential colonies remained closed. Private schools had declared a holiday and most government schools were shut after 11 am. Trains were crowded as buses and tempos remained off roads.Hundreds of protesters with majority being women marched to the main bus stand carrying pictures of liquor baron Shiv Lal Doda. They raised slogans against the Doda family, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and the police.