SYL row: Abhay Chautala, 72 others arrested by Punjab police

Several INLD leaders of Haryana, including Abhay Chautala, were stopped on Thursday from marching into Punjab to undertake the digging of the SYL canal and arrested for breaching the prohibitory orders. Chautala, along with several INLD leaders, including Ashok Arora and Ram Pal Majra and other party MLAs and workers, totalling 73 were arrested by the Punjab police near Shambhu barrier at Haryana-Punjab border for breaching section 144 of the Cr P C and were whisked away in a Punjab police bus.

The leaders decided to court arrest after the Punjab police with its elaborate security arrangements foiled their attempts to cross over to the state, capping the fears of showdown between the INLD workers and security forces.

"We have arrested them for violating Section 144. They have been booked under Section 188 of IPC (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant)," Punjab Police, DIG, Patiala Range, Ashish Chaudhary said.