Several leaders of Sikh groups, who had planned to take part in a protest march in Faridkot district, were taken into preventive custody in the wee hours on Friday by the Punjab police. Though the officials remained mum on the number of activists arrested, one of the leaders claimed that nearly 100 people were taken into custody.
All the Sikh leaders were picked up from their houses in the wee hours or early morning to prevent a scheduled march from Bhagta Bhai Ka which was to culminate at Bargari, the place from where a ‘saroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib was stolen and months later found desecrated in the streets. The Sarbat Khalsa jathedars (head priests) had given a call for a protest march from Bhagta Bhai Ka to Bargari against the “failure” of the Punjab government to arrest those involved in alleged acts of sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib reported from various places in the state for July 17.
As per the program, an akhand path was to be started at Bhagta Bhai Ka from July 15 and a protest march in cars and on bikes was to proceed to Bargari on July 17 after the bhog. Former Golden Temple ardasiya (priest) Bhai Balbir Singh, who refused a siropa to Punjab Chief Minister Paraksh Singh Badal and former hazuri ragi Bhai Baldev Singh Wadala who was sacked for being vocal against the system are among Sikh leaders and preachers who were arrested by the state Police.
Bhai Balbir Singh and Sikh Sadbhawna Dal chief Ragi Baldev Singh Wadala were picked from their houses at around 5 am.
Among others who have been detained by the police include United Akali Dal (UAD) president Bhai Mohkam Singh, Bhai Gurdeep Singh Bathinda, Bhai Ram Singh, Bhai Wassan Singh Jafferwal, Surjit Singh Kalabula, Balwinder Singh Suba Kadim Ferozepur, Bhai Paramjit Singh Jajjoani, Jasbir Singh Mandiala, SAD (Amritsar) district president Harbir Singh Sandhu, Harjinder Singh Bajeke, Harpal Singh Makhu, Sukhjit Singh Khose, and others.
Sources said that the ‘Sarbat Khalsa’ appointed Akal Takht Jathedar Bhai Dhian Singh Mand reportedly gave a slip to the police and could not be arrested.
Police have surrounded the Dera of Bhai Amrik Singh Ajnala, the Sarbat Khalsa-appointed Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, Sri Anandpur Sahib. Meanwhile, All India Sikh Students’ Federation (AISSF) president Karnail Singh Peer Mohammad condemned the arrests saying that this was akin to curbing democratic rights.