Ahead of Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's visit to Malerkotla this evening, the Sangrur district administration has clamped Section 144 prohibiting the assembling of more than 10 people in wake of the protests launched by the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Congress over alleged involvement of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLA Naresh Yadav in the June 24 sacrilege incident.
AAP national convener Kejriwal, who is currently at Phagwara in Kapurthala district, faced stiff protests from various Muslim bodies near Konica resorts over the Mehrauli MLA's alleged involvement in the sacrilege incident.
The Punjab Police have, meanwhile, deployed heavy police force to tackle any untoward incident arising during Kejriwal's visit to Malerkotla.
Sangrur Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Preetpal Singh Thind told ANI, "A summon has been issued against the MLA, who will be questioned tomorrow (Tuesday). We are investigating the matter and when we have concrete proof, we will seek a warrant from the court and arrest him."
The SSP further said, "He (Yadav) told us that he would come to Patiala by 11a.m. tomorrow for questioning. His brother has received the summon. We told Yadav about the allegations levelled against him, let's see what he says."
He said Vijay Kumar, one of the accused in the case, had named the AAP MLA following which the latter was booked.
Talking about Kejriwal's security during his visit to Malerkotala, the SSP said, "We would provide full security to him during his visit to Malerkotala."
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When asked if they tried to stop the AAP convener from visiting the strife-torn town, he said they did not stop or prohibit him from visiting there.
The Sangrur Police booked Yadav after the alleged mastermind in the case, Vijay Kumar, disclosed that he had desecrated the Quran at the behest of the Mehrauli MLA.
"I have become the part of a political conspiracy. AAP MLA Naresh Yadav bribed me to carry out this work for political mileage in the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. He asked me to do this and said he will make me rich. I fell in the trap and did this mistake," said Vijay Kumar.
"Another person was also involved in this with me. He said Malerkotla was the only sensitive place in Punjab so he asked me to carry on this deed there," he added.
The police arrested Vijay Kumar, Nand Kishore and his son Gaurav in this regard.
There was arson in Malerkotla on the night of June 24 after pages of the Quran were found dumped near a drain on the Khanna road.
A mob attacked and set Akali Dal MLA Farzana Alam's home on fire leading to communal tension.
The mob also exchanged gunfire with the police, leaving several injured.