Sant Babas at it again as Gurdwara Row Hots Up Again
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, January 2
Row over the management of Gurdwara Sachkhand Angetha Sahab in
Mastuana Sahab of Sangrur erupted again this morning when some
miscreants entered the residence of Baba Sadhu Singh, mukh sewadar
(chief caretaker), at 4 am and allegedly threatened him for taking
over the control of the religious place. The miscreants, alleged to
be supporters of Surjeet Singh Duggan, besides taking over the
possession of the gurdwara also took hold of the gurdwara offerings
including cash and jewellery.
There are two groups involved in the row --- one headed by Surjeet
Singh Duggan, while the other group is led by Baba Sadhu Singh,
allegedly supported by Jarnail Singh Changal.
Local sources said in the morning when the devotees reached the
religious place to offer prayers, they found the gurdwara premises
turned into a police cantonment. They added that the police had
sealed all the entry and exit points of the gurdwara to prevent any
confrontation between the two warring groups.
Meanwhile, Karam Singh, one of the followers of the ailing Baba Sadhu
Singh, alleged that a large number of armed persons from Damdama
Sahib and Talwandi Sabo with the "active support" of the local police
took over the reins of the gurdwara. He further said that forcible
possession of the religious place, founded by Mastuana Sahab Sant
Baba Attar Singh, was politically motivated and had patronage of a
senior leader of the SAD. He added that since offerings at the
gurdwara were in lakhs, it had resulted in some people using force to
take over it.
DSP (rural) Kuldeep Sharma, while talking to mediapersons, denied any
forcible possession by any group. He added that the police would act
when a written complaint is made.
A few months ago also, the two groups had fought a battle to gain
control of the management of the gurdwara.
Tribune News Service
Sangrur, January 2
Row over the management of Gurdwara Sachkhand Angetha Sahab in
Mastuana Sahab of Sangrur erupted again this morning when some
miscreants entered the residence of Baba Sadhu Singh, mukh sewadar
(chief caretaker), at 4 am and allegedly threatened him for taking
over the control of the religious place. The miscreants, alleged to
be supporters of Surjeet Singh Duggan, besides taking over the
possession of the gurdwara also took hold of the gurdwara offerings
including cash and jewellery.
There are two groups involved in the row --- one headed by Surjeet
Singh Duggan, while the other group is led by Baba Sadhu Singh,
allegedly supported by Jarnail Singh Changal.
Local sources said in the morning when the devotees reached the
religious place to offer prayers, they found the gurdwara premises
turned into a police cantonment. They added that the police had
sealed all the entry and exit points of the gurdwara to prevent any
confrontation between the two warring groups.
Meanwhile, Karam Singh, one of the followers of the ailing Baba Sadhu
Singh, alleged that a large number of armed persons from Damdama
Sahib and Talwandi Sabo with the "active support" of the local police
took over the reins of the gurdwara. He further said that forcible
possession of the religious place, founded by Mastuana Sahab Sant
Baba Attar Singh, was politically motivated and had patronage of a
senior leader of the SAD. He added that since offerings at the
gurdwara were in lakhs, it had resulted in some people using force to
take over it.
DSP (rural) Kuldeep Sharma, while talking to mediapersons, denied any
forcible possession by any group. He added that the police would act
when a written complaint is made.
A few months ago also, the two groups had fought a battle to gain
control of the management of the gurdwara.
