New Delhi: The Centre intervened in Punjab on Thursday night as the situation arising out of factional clashes between two Sikh sects deteriorated and fresh violence erupted in several areas across the state.
The Union Government rushed para-military forces to the trouble-torn state and to Sirsa in Haryana to take control of the situation as tension mounted across North India. Para-military personnel have also been deployed in some pockets of the national capital with significant Sikh concentration.
The Central forces have been pressed into service in all trouble spots across Punjab and in Sirsa, Haryana, where the Dera Sacha Sauda sect is headquartered. Clashes between supporters of Dera Sacha Sauda and Sikhs claimed the first victim on Thursday when a resident of Sangrur, Kamaljit Singh, was shot dead at Dera Sacha Sauda near Sunam.
The decision to deploy the para-military forces was taken after Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal spoke to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and sought 50 companies of Central forces.
The Centre, which is monitoring the situation closely, dispatched companies of Rapid Action Force, CRPF and BSF to Punjab and Haryana to ensure that the situation is under control.
Sources in the Union Home Ministry said the forces were being sent to assist the local police in maintaining law and order, which was deteriorating following clashes between the cadres of Dera Sacha Sauda and Sikhs.
The para-military forces in the national capital have been deployed after tensions in pockets having sizeable Sikh population like Tilak Nagar, Janakpuri, parts of walled city and Central Delhi.
Earlier, the Centre issued advisories to Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan to keep security forces on alert in the wake of clashes between Dera followers and Sikhs in the past few days.
Parts of Punjab and Haryana continued to be tense for the fourth day on Thursday due to the stand-off between Sikhs and Dera followers even as Sikh high priests called for a social boycott of the controversial religious group.
The tension escalated after Sikh high priests called for a social boycott of Dera Sacha Sauda for allegedly insulting Guru Gobind Singh, sparking fresh attacks by Sikh protestors on properties of the controversial religious group that left at least 22 injured.
Five high priests, who met at Talwandi Sabo Gurdwara near Bhatinda, gave the Punjab government time till May 20 to act against the Dera for its "anti-Sikh activities". After this, Sikhs would be "forced to act against the Dera", they warned.
A group of 100 Sikh missionaries returning from Talwandi Sabo had attacked a Dera ashram at Ram Nagar near Maur Mandi in Bathinda district, injuring 22 people, including a policeman.
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.
A large number of Dera followers and Sikhs came face to face near Salabatpur in Bhatinda district and police were deployed in strength to control the situation, said ADGP (law and order) B Chandersekhar. In Bhatinda, Dera followers surrounded Kila Gurdwara while a number of Sikh devotees were inside.
The Punjab government denied having issued instructions to police to vacate Dera ashrams, a claim made by the group. The Chief Minister's Media Advisor Harcharan Bains said police were trying to persuade the two factions to disperse peacefully.
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