05-17-2007, 10:12 PM
<b>Situation is very grim in Punjab</b>
Media is showing live speech from Sirsa, they are trying to make it explosive.
<b>Situation tense in Punjab, Centre asks people to maintain calm </b>
<b>Punjab seeks 5000 personnel of Central forces</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Social boycott of Dera Sacha Sauda
Earlier in the day, tension mounted in Punjab as Sikh high priests today called for a social boycott of the Dera Sacha Sauda for allegedly insulting Guru Gobind Singh, sparking fresh attacks by Sikh protestors on the properties of the controversial religious group in parts of Punjab.
The Sikh high priests, who met under the Chairmanship of the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Joginder Singh Vedanti, finalised a five-point `hukamnama` (edict). Following protests from a section of the large gathering of Sikhs, Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahab, Balwant Singh Nandgarh, announced that the body had decided to give the state government an ultimatum to arrest the Dera chief by May 20 and to lock the Dera properties across Punjab.
Five high priests, who met at Talwandi Sabo Gurdwara near Bathinda, gave the Punjab government time till May 20 to act against the Dera for its "anti-Sikh activities". After this period, Sikhs would be "forced to act against the Dera", they warned.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Tension escalated in Punjab as Sikh high priests today called for a social boycott of Dera Sacha Sauda, sparking fresh attacks by Sikh protestors on properties of the controversial religious group that left at least 22 injured.
A group of 100 Sikh missionaries returning from Talwandi Sabo attacked a Dera ashram at Ram Nagar near Maur Mandi in Bathinda district, injuring 22 people, including a policeman. One of the injured was seriously hurt, officials said.
The Sikhs demolished the walls of the Dera property, damaged vehicles and attacked male followers while sparing the women. Some 80 policemen were deployed at the spot but they allegedly did nothing to save the Dera followers.
In Mansa, a chowk named after the Dera was demolished while Sikhs attacked a Dera property at Sunam in Sangrur district. Some persons were injured in this incident.
Large numbers of Dera followers and Sikhs came face to face near Salabatpur in Bathinda district and police were deployed in strength to control the situation, said ADGP (law and order) B Chandersekhar.
In Bathinda, Dera followers surrounded Kila Gurdwara while a number of Sikh devotees were inside</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaS2BUyvPMc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arC71akoFdc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOjXNyXYaZk
Media is showing live speech from Sirsa, they are trying to make it explosive.
<b>Situation tense in Punjab, Centre asks people to maintain calm </b>
<b>Punjab seeks 5000 personnel of Central forces</b>
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Social boycott of Dera Sacha Sauda
Earlier in the day, tension mounted in Punjab as Sikh high priests today called for a social boycott of the Dera Sacha Sauda for allegedly insulting Guru Gobind Singh, sparking fresh attacks by Sikh protestors on the properties of the controversial religious group in parts of Punjab.
The Sikh high priests, who met under the Chairmanship of the Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Joginder Singh Vedanti, finalised a five-point `hukamnama` (edict). Following protests from a section of the large gathering of Sikhs, Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahab, Balwant Singh Nandgarh, announced that the body had decided to give the state government an ultimatum to arrest the Dera chief by May 20 and to lock the Dera properties across Punjab.
Five high priests, who met at Talwandi Sabo Gurdwara near Bathinda, gave the Punjab government time till May 20 to act against the Dera for its "anti-Sikh activities". After this period, Sikhs would be "forced to act against the Dera", they warned.<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Tension escalated in Punjab as Sikh high priests today called for a social boycott of Dera Sacha Sauda, sparking fresh attacks by Sikh protestors on properties of the controversial religious group that left at least 22 injured.
A group of 100 Sikh missionaries returning from Talwandi Sabo attacked a Dera ashram at Ram Nagar near Maur Mandi in Bathinda district, injuring 22 people, including a policeman. One of the injured was seriously hurt, officials said.
The Sikhs demolished the walls of the Dera property, damaged vehicles and attacked male followers while sparing the women. Some 80 policemen were deployed at the spot but they allegedly did nothing to save the Dera followers.
In Mansa, a chowk named after the Dera was demolished while Sikhs attacked a Dera property at Sunam in Sangrur district. Some persons were injured in this incident.
Large numbers of Dera followers and Sikhs came face to face near Salabatpur in Bathinda district and police were deployed in strength to control the situation, said ADGP (law and order) B Chandersekhar.
In Bathinda, Dera followers surrounded Kila Gurdwara while a number of Sikh devotees were inside</b><!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xaS2BUyvPMc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=arC71akoFdc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOjXNyXYaZk