Several leaders of Sikh groups who had planned to take part in a protest march in Faridkot district were taken into preventive custody in the wee hours today by Punjab police.
Though officials remained mum on the number of activists arrested, one of the leaders claimed nearly 100 people were taken into custody.
The Sarbat Khalsa Jathedars had given the call for the protest march from Bhagta Bhai Ka to Bargari against the "failure" of the government to arrest those involved in alleged acts of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib reported from various places in the state.
The march was scheduled for July 17.
Those arrested include SAD leaders of Amritsar, United Akali Dal and various other Sikh organisations.
Police have surrounded the Dera of Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala, the Sarbat Khalsa-appointed Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Anandpur.
Meanwhile, All India Sikh Students Federation (AISSF) president Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad condemned the arrests and said that this was akin to curbing democratic rights.
