Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Sigh Dhami escaped unhurt narrowly on Wednesday after his vehicle was attacked by some unidentified people in Mohali, where he had gone to participate in a protest in support of the release of Sikh prisoners.
As per the police, the assailants damaged the rear windowpane of Dhami’s vehicle with stones and swords.
Condemning the incident, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal said that the incident was part of a “deep-rooted conspiracy” to weaken the SGPC and ‘panthic’ institutions. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh also expressed displeasure over the episode.
Under the banner of ‘Kaumi Insaaf Morcha’, protesters from various places of Punjab have laid a siege at YPS Chowk near Mohali-Chandigarh border for the past several days, seeking release of Sikh prisoners, lodged in different prisons across the country despite having completed their jail sentences.
Dhami, addressing the media after the attack, said that he had gone to the protest site on the invitation of the ‘morcha’ organizers.
“When I came out of the pandal and was going to sit in my vehicle, some people gathered there, created a ruckus and damaged the vehicle,” said Dhami while also slamming the police for being “mute spectators” to the incident.
Meanwhile, representatives of the ‘morcha’ said that they did not extend any invitation to the SGPC president for joining the protest.
Reacting to the incident, SAD president Sukhbir Badal said: “Such acts are born out of frustration at the failure to subdue and subjugate the ‘Khalsa Panth’…Now attempts are being made to create anarchy and civil war in the ‘panth’.”
“The ‘panth’ will not allow such acts of cowardice and resolves to do everything in its power to seek the early release of all ‘Bandhi Singhs’ (Sikh prisoners). The SAD and SGPC will continue with programmes in this regard, including the ongoing signature campaign in earnest,” he added.
“We had also held a ‘dharna’ in Delhi to bring national attention on the issue besides seeking a mandate from the ‘sangat’ in the Sangrur by-poll. The same elements conspiring against the SGPC had betrayed the Bandi Singhs by sabotaging the mandate,” he said.
Sukhbir, in a statement, demanded an independent judicial probe into the entire incident. “The probe needed to be taken out of the ambit of the AAP government in Punjab as the dispensation had failed to provide necessary security to the head of the representative body of Sikhs…This incident is also reflective of total collapse of the law and order situation in the state,” he said.
Extortion module having links with Babbar Khalsa terrorists busted, says Punjab Police
Chandigarh: The Punjab Police on Wednesday said it has arrested 13 people and busted an extortion module allegedly having links with Babbar Khalsa terrorists based abroad. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said five weapons and 53 cartridges have been seized. ''In a major breakthrough, Khanna Police busted an international extortion and targeting module operated by Amrit Bal-Jaggu Bhagwanpuria-Pargat Sekhon Gang,'' Yadav said in a tweet. ''The module has links with foreign-based terrorists of Babbar Khalsa. A total of 13 target suppliers and shelter providers have been arrested with the recovery of five weapons and 53 cartridges,'' he added. A case under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act has been registered in the matter, the police chief said.