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| Sikh clashes trigger ominous situation | | Centre sounds security alert in J&K, Punjab, Delhi | |
BL KAK
NEW DELHI, May 18
With intelligence reports suggesting the possibility of "clandestine flow" of an unspecified number of Sikh extremists into some neighbouring areas of Punjab, the government of India has called for "effective" security measures in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi, Punjab and Haryana.
The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which is closely monitoring the situation following violent Sikh protests in Punjab against a Hindu sect, has dashed off a message, urging the police and intelligence agencies in Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Punjab to be highly vigilant. The call for "greater vigilance" is the outcome of intelligence inputs, suggesting Sikh extremists' intention, or gameplan, to make groups of Sikh militants enter the neighbouring Jammu region, Haryana and Delhi, obviously to create "some kind of hideouts or cells for future operations".
According to these intelligence inputs fed to the Union Home Ministry, parts of Jammu region have already been known for being "kind" to Sikh extremists belonging to International Sikh Youth Federation (ISYF) and Khalistan Commando Force (KCF). Hence, all the more reason for the official instructions to the J&K administration calling for a stepped-up watch by the police and intelligence agencies on human traffic from the neighbouring Punjab State.
Punjab was placed on high alert on Friday as the government rushed additional security forces to the region to quell violent Sikh protests against a Hindu sect, officials said. Several Sikh organisations and leaders have demanded the arrest of the head of Dera Sacha Sauda (True Deal Sect), Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, for his alleged blasphemous act of dressing up as the last Sikh Guru, Gobind Singh.
The protests by thousands of armed Sikhs, which began in Punjab on Tuesday, have spread to other northern States including Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana and Delhi. The agitation reached a flashpoint on Thursday night when one Sikh protestor was killed and 22 others injured in clashes with police in the southern Sangrur district.
Expressing concern over the situation, Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, appealed to people in Punjab and Haryana to maintain calm. Prime Minister told mediapersons here: "I have spoken to the Chief Ministers of both the States Punjab and Haryana) in the last two days. I sincerely hope nothing will be done to flare up tempers and the situation in Punjab will be brought under control".
After the protests escalated on Thursday, Union Home Minister, Shivraj Patil, decided to deploy additional security forces in Punjab, heeding to the State Chief Minister, Parkash Singh Badal’s request. In a related development, the Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC), the apex body which controls all Sikh temples, has already called for a boycott of the DSS (Dera Sacha Sauda) sect.
Many of the Sikh attacks have been targeted on the DSS properties in Punjab. A major clash was averted on Thursday night after thousands of Sikhs marching to the Punjab’s biggest DSS campus in Bathinda city were stopped and dispersed by the police. The DSS was set up in Sirsa in 1948 and claims it has over 20 million members in India and abroad. Most of its members are from economically backward communities including low-caste Sikhs, a television channel reported.
According to its members, the DSS recognises one universal god and respects all religions and while it is involved in voluntary social work, it shuns donations in any form.
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