ID :
12930
Fri, 07/18/2008 - 20:07
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/12930
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One killed in Dera-Sikh clash, Punjab on alert
Chandigarh, Jul 18 (PTI) One person was Friday killed
in a clash between a group of Sikhs and Dera Sacha Sauda
supporters in Dabwali town in Haryana's Sirsa district,
prompting police in neighbouring Punjab to go on high alert.
The clash broke out after an altercation between two
sides during morning prayers — naamcharcha — of Dera
supporters in Dabwali, about 60 km from here, Deputy
Commissioner V Umashankar said.
"One person belonging to the group of Sikh supporters
slipped and fell down and was killed in the brickbatting
during the clash," he said.
Umashankar said that the district administration had
not been told about the Dera programme in advance.
"Generally, we are informed about any naamcharcha by
the Dera people, but this time we had no information because
of which we could not take any action.
"It was a small prayer congregation in which about
30-35 people from Dera side were present and the Sikh group
numbered about 50. There was some altercation between the two
groups after which they clashed and pelted stones at each
other," he told PTI.
He said tension has been brewing up in Dabwali and
Sirsa, the headquarters of the Dera, whose head Gurmeet Ram
Rahim Singh is at loggerheads with the Sikhs.
Additional forces including two companies (200
personnel) of Rapid Action Force has been deployed in Sirsa
and Dabwali to prevent any untoward incident, he said.
Some Sikhs from Punjab have also reached here and
protesters have blocked Sirsa-Bathinda road, sources said.
Meanwhile, in Punjab a high alert has been sounded
and additional forces were being deployed around sensitive
places, including Salabatpura in Bathinda, which had in the
past witnessed tension between Dera supporters and Sikhs.
"We want to appeal to everyone to help maintain peace.
As a precaution, we have stepped up security around Deras and
other sensitive places," Punjab's Additional Director General
of Police (Law and Order) Chandershekhar told PTI in
Chandigarh.
In June, one person was killed in firing by a
bodyguard of Dera chief in Mumbai during an altercation with a
group of Sikhs, leading to violence.
in a clash between a group of Sikhs and Dera Sacha Sauda
supporters in Dabwali town in Haryana's Sirsa district,
prompting police in neighbouring Punjab to go on high alert.
The clash broke out after an altercation between two
sides during morning prayers — naamcharcha — of Dera
supporters in Dabwali, about 60 km from here, Deputy
Commissioner V Umashankar said.
"One person belonging to the group of Sikh supporters
slipped and fell down and was killed in the brickbatting
during the clash," he said.
Umashankar said that the district administration had
not been told about the Dera programme in advance.
"Generally, we are informed about any naamcharcha by
the Dera people, but this time we had no information because
of which we could not take any action.
"It was a small prayer congregation in which about
30-35 people from Dera side were present and the Sikh group
numbered about 50. There was some altercation between the two
groups after which they clashed and pelted stones at each
other," he told PTI.
He said tension has been brewing up in Dabwali and
Sirsa, the headquarters of the Dera, whose head Gurmeet Ram
Rahim Singh is at loggerheads with the Sikhs.
Additional forces including two companies (200
personnel) of Rapid Action Force has been deployed in Sirsa
and Dabwali to prevent any untoward incident, he said.
Some Sikhs from Punjab have also reached here and
protesters have blocked Sirsa-Bathinda road, sources said.
Meanwhile, in Punjab a high alert has been sounded
and additional forces were being deployed around sensitive
places, including Salabatpura in Bathinda, which had in the
past witnessed tension between Dera supporters and Sikhs.
"We want to appeal to everyone to help maintain peace.
As a precaution, we have stepped up security around Deras and
other sensitive places," Punjab's Additional Director General
of Police (Law and Order) Chandershekhar told PTI in
Chandigarh.
In June, one person was killed in firing by a
bodyguard of Dera chief in Mumbai during an altercation with a
group of Sikhs, leading to violence.
