Tension in Muktsar village over land; security up

MUKTSAR: Tension prevailed at Gurusar village in Gidderbaha subdivision of Muktsar district on Friday when a group of Nihangs belonging to Baba Budha Dal managing a gurdwara in the village took control over a 43acre agricultural land belonging to another faction led by Baba Balbir Singh 96 Crori

Updated At : 12:17 PM Jun 01, 2019 IST

Nihangs armed with sharp-edged weapons at the agricultural land in Gurusar village, Muktsar, on Friday. Tribune photo

Archit Watts

Tribune News Service

Muktsar, May 31

Tension prevailed at Gurusar village in Gidderbaha subdivision of Muktsar district on Friday when a group of Nihangs belonging to Baba Budha Dal, managing a gurdwara in the village, took control over a 43-acre agricultural land belonging to another faction led by Baba Balbir Singh 96 Crori.

Armed with sharp-edged weapons, a large number of Nihangs belonging to Baba Satnam Singh’s faction on Friday started a morcha by installing a ‘nishan sahib’ in the agricultural land. Sensing the gravity of the situation, a large number of policemen were roped in. Gidderbaha SDM and DSP too reached the spot to diffuse tension, but failed to do so.

Notably, this chunk of land is given on lease every year by Baba Balbir Singh to a farmer in the village. However, the group led by Baba Satnam Singh claimed that the land belonged to the gurdwara and the lease money should be spent on it. However, the land in the revenue records is registered in the name of Baba Balbir Singh.

Baba Gurpinder Singh, son of Baba Satnam Singh, who is heading the morcha, said, “The land is illegally registered in the name of Balbir Singh. It belongs to the gurdwara and not even a single penny should be spent somewhere else. We have taken control over the land today and its earnings will only be spent only on the expansion and repairs of gurdwara. Now, we are ready to fight any battle for this genuine cause.”

“Last year, too, we had raised a strong objection over the ownership of land. But at that time, some officers had played a game with us. This time, we will not budge from our stand,” said Baba Gurpinder Singh. Beant Singh, sarpanch of Gurusar village, said, “A committee should be formed in the village and its decision be made mandatory for everyone.”

Meanwhile, Inspector Harpreet Singh, SHO, Gidderbaha police station, said, “The group taking care of the gurdwara, which started a morcha today, has agreed to reach a consensus after the intervention of the village panchayat. We have even deployed some jawans in the village to maintain law and order.”