Bathinda/Sangrur, Feb. 7 -- Activists of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Ekta Ugrahan) clashed with police in Bathinda, Barnala and Sangrur districts after the authorities barricaded the roads at various locations to prevent them from reaching Bathinda city to hold a protest outside the district administrative complex (DAC). The farm union is demanding the release of two of its leaders, Baldev Singh and Shagandeep Singh, currently in judicial custody for allegedly assaulting DSP Rahul Bhardwaj last year. The BKU (Ekta-Ugrahan) is one of the state's most influential agrarian bodies. Vehicular traffic on the national highway number 7 (Fazilka-Zirakpur) was disrupted for over five hours on Friday. Police lobbed tear gas shells to disperse the protesters near Jeond village in the evening. Union senior vice-president Jhanda Singh said that as many as 53 farmers were detained during protests, while another farmer leader, who didn't wish to be named, said over 500 union members have been detained. Deputy commissioner Rajesh Dhiman said no one sustained injuries in the police action. "A few protesters were taken into preventive custody, and the detainees would be released soon," DC Dhiman added. Bathinda SSP Jyoti Yadav said that the police action was initiated after a mob showed aggression against the police personnel. "District authorities were engaged in talks with the BKU leadership on their demands. But the union backtracked on the promise and tried to mobilise protesters towards Bathinda. Police took action to maintain law and order," she added. After tear gas shelling, protesters boarded their vehicles and traffic movement on the NH was restored. However, police continue to man the sensitive areas. Near Jeond, Talwandi Sabo naib tehsildar Ravinder Singh, DSP Gurpreet Singh and their official gunmen were held hostage by the protesting farmers for about an hour today. Naib tehsildar was appointed duty magistrate by the district administration to maintain law and order. They were made to sit on the road, and protesters surrounded them, and they were let off later. "We had come for negotiations with the protesters. After discussions, the union leaders forcibly made us sit with them over there," the DSP said. In Barnala and Sangrur too Ekta-Ugrahan members clashed with cops. Tapa DSP Gurpreet Singh said that around 59 were rounded up and nearly 100 have been detained in Barnala district. In Sangrur authorities had took 250 farmers into preventive custody. At Mehlan Chowk of Sangrur farmers were cane-charged. The union leadership is demanding the release of two of its leaders, Baldev Singh and Shagandeep Singh currently in judicial custody. Bail applications of both accused were dismissed by a Bathinda court and subsequently by high court last year. The duo has again applied for a regular bail, and the matter will come up for hearing on February 18....