Sikh protests called off after Patil's assurance

A year after Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh hit the headlines has again found himself in the realm of controversy after the death of a Sikh in Mulund, a north eastern suburb of Mumbai followed by a violent clash of Dera supporters and Sikh communities.

Meanwhile, the Sikh protesters have kept themselves aloof from the agitation till Monday after assurance given by the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister R R Patil that stringent action will be taken against the accused.

However, the agitators said the call off agitation is temporary in nature and would resort to agitation again if the government remains silent over the incident.

Ex-gratia payment has been announced by the Maharashtra government to pay to the victims: Rs 2 lakh to the deceased boy identified as Malkar Singh and Rs 25,000 to the injured persons. The incident had left one person dead and two seriously injured.

Chief Minister of Punjab, Prakash Singh Badal taking the incident seriously had demanded strict action against the accused responsible for sparking violence. “The incident is very sad. We are in constant touch with the Maharashtra government to arrest the culprits and take immediate steps to diffuse the situation.” The situation in Punjab would not be allowed to go out of control, he added.

Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandhak Committee Secretary Dilmesh Singh also has demanded stiff action from the Maharashtra government against the Dera chief for spreading violence and infringing peace. “The government should impose restrictions on his mobility as wherever he goes, spreads hatred among people.”

The clashes broke out at the Nirmal Lifestyles mall in Mulund last night after a group of Sikhs raised anti-Dera slogans at the visit of Dera chief there. A bodyguard of the Dera chief allegedly opened fire during the altercation between the Sikh Communities and the Dera supporters which left a boy dead and two others injured.

In protest of the killing a large number of Sikhs took to the streets and blocked traffics on Saturday morning. Protesters squatted on the Mulund Railway Station and disrupted the movement of trains. Buses and other public vehicles were damaged and shops were forced to shutter down. Sikhs affiliated schools were declared closed for the indefinite time.

The three bodyguards of Dera Sachcha Sauda chief have been taken into custody and were sent into police custody till July 2 by a city court. The Maharashtra government has ordered Mumbai Crime Branch to probe the case.

Last year, Dera Sachha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh had sparked the anger among the Sikh communities by dressing up as Guru Gobind Singh.