Various unions including Punjab Students Union (PSU), Bharti Kisan Union (BKU) factions Ekta and Ugrahan, Kirti Kisan Sabha, CPI, Pendu Khet Mazdoor Union, Technical Service Union, Democratic Teachers Front, Nauzawan Bharat Sabha participated in the protest in front of the district administrative complexes across the state, PSU president Karamjit Singh said.
“Our protests in front of Deputy Commissioner offices across Punjab remained peaceful,” Singh said.
The protesters demanded cancellation of Orbit bus service permit, registration of case against Sukhbir, who is co-owner of Orbit Aviation firm, in whose bus the incident happened, and withdrawal of cases registered against 13 students who were protesting against the incident in Faridkot recently.
Singh also said that the government should take strict action against the police officials who “brutally” beat the students, including a female, after their arrest during a protest at Faridkot.
He said that their next line of action against Orbit bus service, which is back on roads in Punjab, will be taken soon.
Addressing the protesters, BKU (Ekta) General Secretary Sukhdev Singh strongly demanded registration of case against the Deputy CM.
Punjab police had already clarified that no case can be registered against the bus owners, and those allegedly involved in the crime have been put behind the bars.
Political parties in the state, including Congress, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Peoples Party of Punjab (PPP) had strongly protested the incident and sought registration of case against the bus owners.
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy CM son Sukhbir Singh Badal had met the victims’ family and announced compensation for them to be paid by the company even as they termed the incident “very unfortunate”.
PTI