Curfew Continued In Punjab Town After Clashes Between Police And Sikhs

[kdsingh80]

http://punjabnewsline.com/content/curfew-continued-punjab-town-after-clashes-between-police-and-sikhs/27450

Curfew continued in Punjab town after clashes between police and Sikhs

Punjab Newsline Network

Monday, 03 January 2011

MANSA: The curfew imposed yesterday in Bhikhi town of Mansa district of Punjab continued on Monday. Punjab government imposed curfew under pressure from Dera Sacha Sauda which opposed holding of a congregation by Sikh preacher Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal in local Gurdwara to commemorate the birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh.

While police arrested Sant Daduwal, the Sikh supporters of him clashed with police in protest against curbs imposed on holding congregatrion. Heavy police force is deployed in the area.

The violence started when supporters of Sant Daduwal came on streets demanding release of Sand. They allegedly pelted stones on police which retorted to lathi charge. The police beat up people after dragging from their homes. The protestors set on fire police vehicles.

Those injured in the police lathi charge included Gursewak Singh Jawaharke general secretary Amritsar Akali Dal,Gurpreet Singh Jhabbar district youth akali dal president, Sant Lal Singh Bhikhi and SAD(Badal) leader Paramjit Singh Bhikhi.

Tension had been simmering in the town for the past two days, as the hardliners, under the leadership of Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal, had been performing congregation in the town. Sunday was last day of the Samagam.

Followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda had expressed apprehension before the police suspecting that he would speak against dera chief Gurmit Ram Rahim. After Daduwal assured the police that he would not speak anything objectionable, the police allowed him to hold the programme.

However, dera followers took an exception to some words that Daduwal used against their religious head on Saturday. Though the timely action by the police averted a clash between them on Saturday, both groups asked their supporters to assemble at Bhikhi on Sunday.

As hundreds of dera followers assembled on the main road here this morning, the police, as a preventive measure, rounded up Daduwal from Gurdwara Jandalisar, located near Kotshamir in Bathinda district, and took him to some undisclosed place.

As the information reached Daduwal’s followers, who were waiting for him at the place of congregation, they turned aggressive and started assembling on the road. The situation turned tense when members of both groups started moving towards each other brandishing weapons.

Meanwhile, a contingent of the police force reached the spot and positioned itself between the two groups. Water cannons and anti-riot vehicles were also stationed there to prevent a clash.

As the senior police officials initiated negotiations, dera followers demanded that Daduwal should not enter the town and that the “samagam” should not take place. On the other hand, Sikhs were reluctant to leave the place before the dera followers did so and their leader Daduwal was released.

As the radicals broke into groups and started attacking the police from various corners, streets and even from the roofs of buildings located nearby, police personnel found themselves outnumbered.

Finding the situation turning ugly, the Deputy Commissioner, Mansa, imposed a curfew in the town and the police also resorted to firing, the reports said.

[kdsingh80]

It surprises me how powerless sikhism has gone as they can't even conduct programme's in Punjab.A Dera Chief

that took power in 1990 is now so strong that His followers are now even openly challenge Sikhs

[DSG]

It surprises me how powerless sikhism has gone as they can't even conduct programme's in Punjab.A Dera Chief

that took power in 1990 is now so strong that His followers are now even openly challenge Sikhs

[DSG]

As the X security dera wala guy on the Sikh channel said yesterday , the so called local government and central government are on the side of the Dera wala ( mainly for votes , and payoffs) , even if you get the external organisations such as UN , human rights etc.. behind the Sikhs , who will actaully give justice in Punjab ? There has to be some one or thing who cannot be bought hence give justice to the Sikhs , and that someone or thing is what the Sikhs should be searching hard for in Punjab.

[kdsingh80]

As the X security dera wala guy on the Sikh channel said yesterday , the so called local government and central government are on the side of the Dera wala ( mainly for votes , and payoffs) , even if you get the external organisations such as UN , human rights etc.. behind the Sikhs , who will actaully give justice in Punjab ? There has to be some one or thing who cannot be bought hence give justice to the Sikhs , and that someone or thing is what the Sikhs should be searching hard for in Punjab.

The Big question is that how this Dera has got the votes? Politicians are going to support only those who have votes on their side.If sikhs don't have votes it means that Sikhs are on receiving end

[kdsingh80]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2011/20110105/punjab.htm

Daduwal, 56 others freed unconditionally

Rajay Deep

Tribune News Service

Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal interacts with mediapersons at Gurdwara Jandalisar in Bathinda district on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Bathinda, January 4

All 57 radical Sikhs, including Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal, a hardline Sikh preacher, who were arrested by the Mansa Police on Sunday, were released today.

Acting upon the state government’s directions, the police released all of them unconditionally and even initiated a process to withdraw the case. “This has been done in the interest of the state as the government wants to restore normalcy,” said Mansa SSP Hardyal Singh Mann. However, finding tension prevailing, curfew was kept in force at Bhikhi town for the third consecutive day with a relaxation of three hours twice.

Daduwal, along with 11 others, was taken into preventive custody on Sunday morning from Gurdwara Jandalisar as his “objectionable remarks” had created uneasiness among followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda on Saturday. Irked over his arrest, his followers had clashed with the police at Bhikhi town on the same day. Later, the police arrested 45 of his followers from the spot and booked them under Sections 307 and 353 of the IPC on Sunday. In the case, over 100 unidentified persons were also included but they could not be arrested.

Facing the prospect of statewide protests, the state government today directed the district administration to order their unconditional release. Following this, Daduwal, along with his 11 followers, was released from the Ferozepur Central Jail at 2 am today. To ensure that they do not go anywhere else, the Mansa Police escorted them to Gurdwara Jandalisar in Bathinda at 4 am.

After a couple of hours, Daduwal held a press conference at the gurdwara and gave an ultimatum that if his followers lodged in the Bathinda Central Jail were not released till January 6, the Sant Samaj and other Sikh organisations would hold a joint meeting and chalk out an aggressive course of action. “It is quite surprising that without any evidence, the police arrested me and then without asking for a bail bond, released me. I ask bureaucrats as well as politicians to decide whether I am guilty or not and stop this drama of arrest and release,” he said.

“As I am out of jail now, I will do my best to build pressure on the government. If they think I will sit quiet, it’s their misconception,” said Daduwal. Ironically, after some time, the Mansa Police called up Daduwal that they were about to release all 45 of his followers from the Bathinda Central Jail unconditionally. Following this, Daduwal, along with a large number of followers, reached the jail and received his followers. Talking to the media, Daduwal said the government had succumbed to the pressure that they all be released. Meanwhile, he announced to hold a religious congregation in Sangrur district from January 7-9.

“Though the government is doing its best to foil our attempts, we are committed to hold it at any cost,” he said. He also accused the government of dancing to the tunes of the Dera Sacha Sauda to seek votes in the next Assembly elections.

Targeting the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Daduwal said, “We have been struggling to get the edict issued by Akal Takht against the Dera Sacha Sauda. But neither the ruling party, which claims to be a Panthic party, nor anyone else, including the SGPC, seems interested in it. If Akal Takht is unable to implement it, the edict must be taken back,” he added.

[HSD1]

The way to deal with the Deras is not to pussyfoot around them. If there were more opportunities in punjab then people wouldnt be stupid enough to follow any idiot who thinks he can hoodwink by pretending to be holy. Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal sounds like he has the right viewpoint, we could do with public speakers like him wherever the deras have a strong following.

[HSD1]

Why arent singhs taking videos and putting them up on the net? Visual evidence of police brutality and oppression go a long way in projecting the truth. I've seen videos on the net of sikhs dealing with immigrants from bihar etc so its a wonder why they cant do it for situations like this.

[dalsingh101]

This is an instance where Singh Sabha got things right big time. Weaning apnay off worshiping any old bod claiming they were 'holy'. If we emphasised our republican/egalitarian side much more we wouldn't have so many sheep bastards to become x, y and z banauti baba's chelay. Plus apnay are twats too, looking for quick fix 'interventions' to the divine for their wishes and desires - and being willing to jump on anyone who promises bandwagon.