punjab

Updated: Jun 26, 2017 09:08 IST

After a video showing a man making derogatory remarks about Jesus Christ went viral on WhatsApp, members of the Christian community held protest at two places, one of which saw blockading of the Jalandhar-Nakodar road for two hours, damage to a bus, and burning tyres of tyres.

The police registered a case, but the protesters gave a two-day ultimatum for arrest of the Sikh man — reported to be Tarn Taran — who is seen arguing with a purported preacher.

The protest near Khambra in the evening turned violent when a Punjab Roadways bus was pelted with stones; passengers and staff had managed to get off it. Earlier in the day, some members of the community held a peaceful protest at Rama Mandi Chowk for about half an hour.

Cops rushed to the spot near Khambra, said deputy commissioner of police Rajinder Singh; the blockade was lifted after officers held talks with representatives of the community, and informed them that an FIR was registered in Tarn Taran.

Talking to HT over the phone, Tarn Taran senior superintendent of police Harjit Singh said a case under sections 295A (outraging religious feelings), 505 (for rumours) and 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against unidentified persons. A team was sent to a village in the district after a preliminary probe, he added.