LUDHIANA: At least 35 workers of Akali Dal and Congress were injured when they clashed over a white coloured effigy of demon king Ravana here, police said today.
The controversy over burning of a Ravana effigy donning white colour turned ugly last night when the supporters of both Shiromani Akali Dal and Congress clashed at a ground near Vardhman Chowk on Chandigarh road.
Congress had reportedly prepared white effigies as protest against sale of heroin in Punjab and had planned to burn them on Dusshera along with photos of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Traditionally, Ravana effigies are covered with black glaze paper.
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Bharat Bhushan Ashu, who represents Ludhiana West Assembly constituency, said that as many as 12 Congress men were injured in the clash.
District Congress Committee President Gurpreet Goggi and Ravinder Gill were seriously injured in the clash and rushed to a nearby hospital, according to Ashu.
According to police, the SAD workers damaged the white Ravana.