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Sikhs, Dera supporters clash

Dera Sacha Sauda supporters during a clash with a group of Sikhs at Mandi Dabawali near Sirsa, Haryana, on Friday. — Photo: PTI

Chandigarh: The Army was kept on standby and curfew imposed in Dabwali town in Haryana’s Sirsa district on Friday after clashes between a group of Sikhs and supporters of the Dera Sacha Sauda. One person was killed and 30 were injured.

The clashes broke out following an altercation during the morning prayers of Dera supporters in Dabwali, 60 km from Sirsa, Deputy Commissioner V. Umashankar said.

“One person belonging to the Sikh group fell down in the melee and was killed in brickbatting. He has been identified as Mandar Singh of Dabwali,” Mr. Umashankar, who was also injured when he went to assess the situation, said.

After the incident, violence erupted and the mobs damaged 30 shops in Dabwali and burnt two of them. Some vehicles were also damaged.

The situation in Sirsa is tense, and both Haryana and Punjab have been put on high alert.

The Dera chief, Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, has been at loggerheads with Sikh clergy for alleged blasphemy after he wore clothes similar to those of Sikh Guru Govind Singh.

Additional forces, including 500 RAF personnel, were deployed in Sirsa and Dabwali, Haryana’s DGP Ranjiv Dalal said here. He said an FIR was registered. After the incident, Sikh supporters brandishing swords marched through Dabwali and demanded Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s arrest. The biggest premises of the Dera Sacha Sauda is in Bathinda’s Salabatpura, which had witnessed tension between Sikhs and Dera followers in the past.

Security has been tightened in Salabatpura to ensure no untoward incident takes place, Punjab’s Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Chandershekhar said. — PTI

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