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Tension imminent as police 'help' Taksal occupy Nihang headquarters
Tuesday, July,23 2013 - 15:28
AMRITSAR: The Nihangs across Punjab are embittered as certain factions of Sikh community continue to drive them out from gurdwaras. In yet another move which may fuel violence between Nihangs and Damdami Taksal, the latter’s chief Harnam Singh Bhindranwale allegedly took help of Majitha police in occupying land of Gurdwara Hargobind Sahib possessed by Shiromani Panth Akali Tarna Dal of Mehta Chowk in Amritsar.
The trouble dates back to July 13, 2011 when Taksal chief appointed Ajit Singh as chief of Tarna Dal Mehta Chowk. The Dal had already appointed T{censored}m Singh its chief on July 4, 2011 after Sukha Singh’s demise. Nihangs say that Taksal had no right to interfere in their affairs.
Earlier, Ajit Singh and his followers with support of Harnam Singh and Majitha police, have occupied Gurdwara Singh Belan on Baba Bakala road, Gurdwara Hargobind Sahib at Mehta Chowk.
It needs no mention here that Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) had roped in Harnam Singh Bhindranwale during 2012 Punjab assembly polls to garner support of radical factions and Sant Samaj.
Taksal chief has ever since been a force to reckon with in Punjab enjoying support from Punjab police as well. The Majitha police are now in an attempt to force Tarna Dal (Nihangs) to vacate stables which are part of Gurdwara Hargbind Sahib, where the Nihangs live with their horses.
Balwinder Singh, son of Dal-appointed chief T{censored}m Singh said, “Around 4 am on Monday, the police raided our stables and took away 25 horses, four tractor-trailers, four carts and a palanquin. They also took away two minor caretakers. This brazen use of force is being done at behest of Taksal chief.”
He also alleged that police picked up seven Nihangs of Tarna Dal on July 16 without registering any case against them.
“I had to move habeas corpus petition in Punjab and Haryana High Court for appointment of a warrant officer to get them released,” Singh disclosed.
The warrant officer on July 18 raided Beas police station and recovered the seven Nihangs.
Another Nihang Nishan Singh said the police had illegally detained the Nihangs and tortured them to put pressure on Tarna Dal to vacate their gurdwara property and stables. The Taksal chief is after our property, he alleged.
Former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode, Harnam Singh’s confidant said he was trying to pacify both the groups.
Meanwhile, Amritsar (rural) SSP Manmohan Singh denied that police force was under any pressure from Damdami Taksal. He said the Tarna Dal needs to vacate all the places of the Gurdwara Hargobind Sahib as earlier been discussed between the two groups so that the matter could be resolved in an amicable manner.
Regarding recovery of illegal detainees from Beas police station, the SSP said they had been taken there as the lockups at Mehta police station were under repair.
He said police force have been deployed any untoward incident or violence between the groups.
source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/...-help-taksal-occupy-nihang-headquarters/83285
Tuesday, July,23 2013 - 15:28

AMRITSAR: The Nihangs across Punjab are embittered as certain factions of Sikh community continue to drive them out from gurdwaras. In yet another move which may fuel violence between Nihangs and Damdami Taksal, the latter’s chief Harnam Singh Bhindranwale allegedly took help of Majitha police in occupying land of Gurdwara Hargobind Sahib possessed by Shiromani Panth Akali Tarna Dal of Mehta Chowk in Amritsar.
The trouble dates back to July 13, 2011 when Taksal chief appointed Ajit Singh as chief of Tarna Dal Mehta Chowk. The Dal had already appointed T{censored}m Singh its chief on July 4, 2011 after Sukha Singh’s demise. Nihangs say that Taksal had no right to interfere in their affairs.
Earlier, Ajit Singh and his followers with support of Harnam Singh and Majitha police, have occupied Gurdwara Singh Belan on Baba Bakala road, Gurdwara Hargobind Sahib at Mehta Chowk.
It needs no mention here that Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) had roped in Harnam Singh Bhindranwale during 2012 Punjab assembly polls to garner support of radical factions and Sant Samaj.
Taksal chief has ever since been a force to reckon with in Punjab enjoying support from Punjab police as well. The Majitha police are now in an attempt to force Tarna Dal (Nihangs) to vacate stables which are part of Gurdwara Hargbind Sahib, where the Nihangs live with their horses.
Balwinder Singh, son of Dal-appointed chief T{censored}m Singh said, “Around 4 am on Monday, the police raided our stables and took away 25 horses, four tractor-trailers, four carts and a palanquin. They also took away two minor caretakers. This brazen use of force is being done at behest of Taksal chief.”
He also alleged that police picked up seven Nihangs of Tarna Dal on July 16 without registering any case against them.
“I had to move habeas corpus petition in Punjab and Haryana High Court for appointment of a warrant officer to get them released,” Singh disclosed.
The warrant officer on July 18 raided Beas police station and recovered the seven Nihangs.
Another Nihang Nishan Singh said the police had illegally detained the Nihangs and tortured them to put pressure on Tarna Dal to vacate their gurdwara property and stables. The Taksal chief is after our property, he alleged.
Former Akal Takht Jathedar Jasbir Singh Rode, Harnam Singh’s confidant said he was trying to pacify both the groups.
Meanwhile, Amritsar (rural) SSP Manmohan Singh denied that police force was under any pressure from Damdami Taksal. He said the Tarna Dal needs to vacate all the places of the Gurdwara Hargobind Sahib as earlier been discussed between the two groups so that the matter could be resolved in an amicable manner.
Regarding recovery of illegal detainees from Beas police station, the SSP said they had been taken there as the lockups at Mehta police station were under repair.
He said police force have been deployed any untoward incident or violence between the groups.
source: http://www.punjabnewsline.com/news/...-help-taksal-occupy-nihang-headquarters/83285