M A I N   N E W S

Sikhs protest in Mumbai, region
Tribune News Service

Mumbai, June 21
Three bodyguards of Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, who were arrested yesterday for shooting a man to death at a Mumbai mall, have been remanded in police custody till July 2. The names of the bodyguards are Jagdev Singh, Satnam Arora and Rajguru Taneja.

Police said the three men were arrested shortly after they fired at the Sikh protesters who opposed the presence of the Baba at Mumbai's Nirmal Lifestyle mall.

One Sikh, Balkar Singh, died after receiving bullet injuries, the police said. The incident inflamed passions with thousands of Sikhs hitting the roads. Schools and colleges run by the Sikh community remained shut today to protest the incident.

Protests were reported from the region also.

The community, which has a strong presence in Mulund, Thane and nearby areas, descended on the Mulund railway station and blocked trains. They were demanding the arrest of the Baba as a pre-condition for cremating the remains of the dead youth.

According to the police, at least 1,000 Sikhs descended on the Mulund railway station at 11.30 am and blocked the traffic. Several food stalls and shops in the vicinity of the railway station were stoned by the protesters.

A statement made by the Central Railway said several local trains going towards Kalyan, Thane, Ambernath, Kasara and Karjat were cancelled.

Outstation trains to Pune and other places were also delayed for more than two hours. However, after the intervention of the Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil and senior police officials, the protesters allowed the train services to resume. According to the Central Railway, train services were fully restored by evening.

Patil said the Maharashtra government would give a compensation of Rs 2 lakh to the family of the dead and Rs 25,000 each for those injured in the incident. The Deputy CM, who also handles the home ministry, ordered a magisterial inquiry into the incident.

Police said, the family of Balkar Singh had taken his body for cremation.

Meanwhile, peaceful protests are continuing. “We have decided to hold peaceful protests without resorting to violence,” local Congress party MLA Charan Singh Chapra said. Chapra, who had been in the forefront of the agitation, said the Sikhs were hurt that the Baba was allowed to leave Mumbai without being booked for the incident. However, police say they are still not sure if he personally ordered his guards to fire on the protesters.

According to Chapra, the community would take a decision on Monday on whether to continue the agitation.

Meanwhile, other factions of the Sikh community, owing allegiance to other leaders, continued to hold protests in other parts of Mumbai. On the Eastern Express Highway at the Airoli junction in Navi Mumbai, Sikh protesters attempted to block the traffic.

However, the administration deployed the State Reserve Police Force and city police in riot gear. Late in the afternoon, the police fired teargas shells to disperse the protesters.

According to the local police, a number of miscreants had joined the protests and were resorting to hit-and-run attacks, taking advantage of the thick mangrove cover in the area.

Meanwhile, shortly after the yesterday’s incident, the Baba left Mumbai by road for Pune from where he was to take a flight back home. As the news of Baba’s departure spread, members of the Sikh community tried to block the Mumbai-Pune Expressway. However, police did not allow the flow of traffic to be disturbed and 33 sword-bearing youths were arrested.

Meanwhile, the police said security had been tightened at Ratnagiri, where the Dera owns an ashram, to prevent any untoward incident in the town.

According to the police, security had also been beefed up at Nanded.

Jammu: Various Sikh organisations today held a demonstration in Jammu to protest against the killing of a Sikh in Mumbai.

Agitating Sikhs demanded that the Dera chief be immediately arrested for hurting the sentiments of the Sikh community throughout the world.

Angry protesters also burnt an effigy of Gurmeet Ram Rahim. Raising anti-Dera Sacha Sauda slogans, they also burnt tyres on the road.

Sikhs protesters alleged that the killing had taken place to belittle the Sikh community.

Minorities panel flays attack

New Delhi: National Commission for Minorities has taken a serious view of the incident in which a Sikh youth was killed yesterday following firing by the bodyguard of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Ram Rahim Singh.

Harcharan Singh Josh, a member of the commission, told The Tribune today the commission had unanimously condemned the attack which claimed the life of Balkar Singh Sagar. Singh sustained grave injuries when the gunman opened fire and later succumbed to his injuries.

The commission also asked the Maharashtra government to arrest the culprits involved in this case. Josh, meanwhile, appealed to the Sikh community to maintain peace and harmony.

The commission will soon send its delegation to Mumbai to ascertain facts. The commission members will also visit the family of the victim.