Curfew clamped in Punjab town

Curfew was imposed in Punjab’s Malerkotla town on Monday after a mob went on a rampage and attacked a church following rumours that a copy of the Koran had been desecrated in the US.

The rumours began doing the rounds in the Muslim-dominated town in the early hours of Monday, Barnala senior superintendent of police (SSP) HS Bhullar said, adding that some local leaders instigated the mob to indulge in arson.

Police personnel have been deployed in the town to restore law and order. The situation is under control, he said.
Bhullar said a decision on lifting curfew would be taken after reviewing the situation.

The SSP held meetings with local leaders to explain that the Koran burning reports were “unfounded”. He said peace committees had been constituted to dispel the rumours.
Members of the Muslim community gathered in Field Ganj Chowk where Shahi Imam of Punjab Maulana Habib Ur Rehman addressed them.

Meanwhile, tension prevailed in Ludhiana as Christian youths took out a protest march from Isa Nagari demanding immediate arrest of those responsible for the Malerkotla incident.
Deputy commissioner Rahul Tewari and police commissioner Ishwar Singh, however, maintained the situation was under control.

With PTI inputs