Chandigarh: Those found indulging in rioting and arson will have to pay for damages to public property, according to a new legislation the Punjab government is planning to enact.

"We are almost ready with the draft bill and after taking legal opinion, we intend to enact it into a law. As per the new law, anyone found damaging public property in acts of vandalism or violent protests under any pretext will have to pay for the losses suffered," said Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, who is also the state home minister, here Monday evening.

He added: "Punjab has seen instances of lawlessness over the past ten years. Therefore there is an urgent need to rectify this situation by providing effective legal monetary deterrence against such acts."

Badal said the new legislation would be in addition to the existing laws against vandalism and violent protesters.

Punjab was rocked by rampant violence and arson Saturday, last week, as the supporters of the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect had gone on a rampage to protest the registration of another murder case against their chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh.

Agitated mobs torched nearly 30 buses and burnt public property worth lakhs of rupees to voice their protest.

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