Punjab: 11 hurt in Sikh-Sacha Sauda clash

Mansa, Sep 3: Eleven persons including two women were injured in a clash between followers of the Sirsa-based Sacha Sauda and Sikhs in Alampur Mandra village, 10 kms from here today.

According to police sources the injured included seven Dera supporters. The condition of one of the injured was stated to be serious.

Sources stated that the clash took place when certain Sikhs of the village objected to the holding of a 'satsang' in the house of Lily Kumar, a Dera supporter in the village yesterday. They went to the house of Lily Kumar late in the night and manhandled him and threatened him of dire consequences.

When news of the treatment meeted out to Lily Kumar spread, about 30-35 Dera followers from neighbouring villages gathered at his house this morning. This infurated the Sikhs of the village and some of them armed with swords and 'lathis' (sticks) converged at the house where the Dera supporters were holding a meeting.

Police sources said that besides using swords and 'lathis', bricks and cowdung cakes were also hurled at each other by the two clashing groups. Acid was also throw at a member of the attacking group by a Dera supporter.

The seven Dera supporters injured in the attack were identified as Kulwinder Kaur, wife of Lily Kumar, Nirmala Devi, Joginder Singh, Mohan Lal, Charanjit Singh, Bali Singh and Bikarjit Singh. The four Sikhs who sustained injuries were identified as Amrik Singh, Pritam Singh, Hansa Singh and Bhog Singh, whose condition was stated to be serious.

Senior police and civil officers have reached the village and have begun inquries. A case is likely to be registered later in the evening.

Meanwhile Takht Damdama Sahib Jathedar, Balwant Singh Nandgarh and members of various Sikh organisations visited the injured Sikhs in the hospital here.

UNI