The newly-elected members of the Haryana Sikh Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee clashed with police on Wednesday after they sought to take "forcible" control of the Chhenvi Pathshahi Gurdwara in Kurukshetra, outside which they were demonstrating on a peaceful dharna.
The incident occurred on a day when the Supreme Court Bench headed by Chief Justice RM lodha decided to hear on Thursday a petition challenging the constitutional validity of the Haryana Sikh Gurudwara (Management) Act. The petition was filed by one Harbhajan Singh,elected member of SGPC, Kurukshetra.
Tension escalated as hundreds of supporters of HSGPC jumped police barricades and moved towards the shrine, which is at present under the possession of Amritsar-based SGPC and task force. Members of SGPC and taskforce, who were present in the gurudwara pelted stones at the advancing party from atop the roof of the Gurdwara, said eyewitnesses. Several protesters and media person were injured and their vehicles were damaged in this clash that started at about 2.30 pm. Gradually, the clash intensified.
"Police used tear gas, water cannons and cane charge on the protestors to disperse mob", said Ashwin Shenvi, SP, Kurukshetra. In retaliation, "Police personnel were also targeted by HSGPC supporters by pelting stones on security personnel," said police officials.
More than half dozen cops were injured in this fight and situation could be control after an hour there, added police. All the injured were admitted in local government hospital and a private hospital.
These supporters of HSGPC from different parts of Haryana, had gathered near the gurudwara on the call of HSGPC president Jagdish Singh Jhinda. They were supposed to decide further course of action after their futile attempt of convincing Chief Minister of Haryana and Governor of Haryana for taking possession of Haryana gurudwaras back from the members of Amritsar based SGPC, SAD and task force.
Didar Singh Nalvi, vice president of HSGPC alleged that the clash took place at the behest of Parkash Singh Badal, chief minister of Punjab and Avtar Singh Makkar, president of SGPC. "Badal and Makkar had sent more than 150 buses of gundas with stones at gurudwara to attack of our peaceful protestors", alleged Nalvi.
HSGPC demanded not only action against the police personnel on duty who cane charged HSGPC supporters but also suitable compensation for their damaged vehicles.
Eyewitnesses said the clash between the members of SGPC and HSGPC took place due to miscommunication at Kurukshetra on Wednesday. As HSGPC managed to take possession of another gurudwara at Gulha Cheeka in Kaithal district around 60 km from Kurukshetra, some of the senior leaders of HSGPC announced on stage in Kurukshetra that they have got the control of Gurdwaras. After this announcement, all the protesters started moving towards Gurdwara Chhenvi Pathshahi. They broke the barricades. To thwart their attempt, members of SGPC and taskforce started pelting stone.