Haryana on high alert
Chandigarh, May 17
Security arrangements have been beefed up in Haryana following an edict by Sikh clergy for a total social boycott of
Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda sect. Senior police officers after a review of the situation today said that the situation was well under control and additional police personnel have been deployed at all sensitive places throughout the state.
Protest over effigy burning
Fatehabad, May 17
Followers of Dera Sacha Sauda assembled here today in protest against burning of the effigy of their guru, Sant Gurmit Singh, by some Akali workers at Aherwan village in this district last evening.
Jammu and Kashmir
Sikh bodies hold demonstrations
Srinagar, May 17
Expressing their anger against Dera Sacha Sauda, protest demonstrations by various Sikh organisations were held at different places across the Kashmir valley today, while an effigy of Dera Sacha Sauda’s chief Gurmit Ram Rahim was burnt at the Lal Chowk here today.
Edict: Sangat dissatisfied
Talwandi Sabo, May 17
Thousands of members of the Sikh community, who arrived here to participate in the Panthic meeting, raised slogans against Giani Joginder Singh
Vedanti, jathedar, Akal Takht and Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal to express their dissatisfaction over the edict issued by the Sikh clergy in connection with Baba Ram Rahim Gurmit Singh, head, Dera Sacha
Sauda.
SSP’s suspension sought
Amritsar, May 17
Protests continued in several parts of Amritsar here today against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief. Members of certain Sikh religious organisations burnt an effigy of the dera chief Baba Gurmit Ram
Rahim, Baba Pyara Singh Bhaniarawala and Ashutosh Maharaj of Noormahal dera outside the Hall Gate. They raised slogans against the dera chief.
Former MP arrested
Patiala, May 17
Atinder Pal Singh ,a former MP, was arrested and remanded in judicial custody for seven days here today. Police sources here said the former MP had been arrested under Section 107/151 of the IPC to prevent him form instigating people by making inflammatory speeches. He was shifted to Patiala central jail
today. Atinder Pal Singh, a former aide of SAD (A) president Simranjit Singh Mann, now floated the SAD (international). In the last assembly elections he contested against Chief Minister Prakash Singh
Badal. He was also an accused in the Indira Gandhi assassination case but was acquitted later on.
Dera vehicles torched
Ludhiana, May 17
The police cane- charged followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda and activists of various Sikh
organisations, who clashed and torched vehicles outside Jalaldiwal village near
Raikot, late this evening. Though some dera followers claimed the police opened fire, DIG Ishwar Singh and SDM Mukund Singh Sandhu denied it. Sacha Sauda followers allegedly hurled stones at Sikh jathas returning from Damdama Sahib. The jatha members retaliated by torching a number of tractor trolleys of a branch of the Sacha Sauda in jalaldiwal village.The administration has changed the return route of the jatha from to byepass Raikot area. Heavy contingent of the has been rushed to the site.
Notice to CBI over dera chief gunman’s plea
Chandigarh, May 17
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today issued notice to the CBI for July 30 over a bail plea by Safdal Singh, the gunman of Baba Gurmeet Ram
Rahim, head Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa.
Badal writes to PM on minority definition
Chandigarh, May 17
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has sought the immediate intervention of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to get the controversial move regarding the status of minorities dropped.
Sectarian Violence
Parties appeal for calm
Ropar, May 17
Leaders of various political parties and religious organisations today made a fervent appeal to people to maintain peace and harmony in the district in the wake of sectarian tension in the state.
Violence: Cong seeks probe by HC judge
The Punjab pradesh Congress committee has demanded a judicial probe by a sitting judge of the Punjab and Haryana high court into the recent incidents of sectarian violence in the state. The probe should be held to expose those responsible for the turmoil.
SAD meeting
Chandigarh, May 17
A meeting of the political affairs committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal will be held tomorrow to discuss the political situation.
— TNS
Petrol station allottees face harassment
Chandigarh, May 17
There are several persons, who were given permission to set up petrol stations by various companies in 2005, facing harassment from the government authorities in Punjab.
Dera branch near Bathinda attacked
Maur Mandi, May 17
Hundreds of members of various Sikh organisations attacked ‘Naam Charcha Ghar’ of Sirsa based Dera Sacha Sauda located at village Ram
Nagar, near this town and injured seven followers of that sect today.
It’s harsher than the one against Nirankaris
Amritsar, May 17
The wording of the directive pronounced from Takht Damdama Sahib today is harsher than the one issued against Nirankaris from Akal Takht on June 6, 1978. That is a separate issue that the directive could not satisfy the radical Sikhs who sought drastic action against the chief of Dera Sacha
Sauda.
Protest at Paonta
Nahan, May 17
Over 3,000 angry Sikhs took out a protest march in Paonta town to protest against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Ram Rahim who according to them dressed like 10th Guru Shri Govind Singh and claimed to administer ‘Amrit Sanchar’. Protesters also burnt effigy of the dera chief in front of Paonta SDM office.
Muslim leaders join protest
Malerkotla, May 17
Muslim leaders of Malerkotla today joined the protest march taken out by Sikhs, here today, against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Student’s body found
Abohar, May 17
The body of Charanjit Singh Channi, a BA-II year student of Gurunanak Khalsa College, was recovered from Daulatpura sub canal near Gumjal village close to the inter-state border last evening.
Six die as car rams into train
Phillaur, May 17
Six occupants of a Scorpio car number PB-12-0153, were killed on the spot, when their car in which they were crossing an unmanned level railway crossing, rammed into Soemnath Express near Beaspind between Alawalpur and Kalabakra on Jalandhar-Pathankot railway section this afternoon.
NTAS auditions 94
Patiala, May 17
The National Theatre Arts Society (NTAS) organised 22nd annual Prithvi Raj Kapoor Talent Hunt Festival in Central State Library Hall, here, today.
