Curfew relaxed in Dabwali for cremation of sikh youth

Dabwali, Sirsa, July 19 (UNI) Authorities today relaxed indefinite curfew in the town from 1030 hrs till noon to allow cremation of a sikh activist who was killed following clashes between Dera Sacha Sauda supporters and members of a local Sikh religious group yesterday.

The curfew was clamped yesterday after members of the Satkar Sabha, a Sikh religious group, went on rampage after the killing of Harminder Singh, a member of the Group, allegedly by Sacha Sauda supporters.

The funeral of the sikh youth started from a local gurdwara amid chanting of religious hyms after the administration announced relaxation in the curfew to enable sikh community members to perform the cremation.

Hundreds of sikhs, including SGPC Chief Avtar Singh Makkar, attended the funeral of Harminder Singh. The funeral procession , escorted by heavy police force, was still proceeding towards the cremation ground when the last reports came in.

A Satsang Bhavan was set blaze after its walls were damaged by a sikh group at Dhukanwali vilalge, near here, last night. However, the situation was brought under control by the police.

Four companies of BSF, CRPF and RAF had been deployed in the town to maintain law and order. Deputy Commissioner V Umashankar was himself camping in the town. Situation in the town, bordering Punjab, was reported to be tense but under control.

Meanwhile, prohibitory orders under section 144 have been imposed in Sirsa town as precautionary measure. Different sikh organisations have given a call for observing a bandh in Sirsa town on Monday.

Meanwhile, a partial bandh was observed in certain Punjab towns, including Bhatinda, Abohar and Muktsar where sizeable population of Sacha Sauda Dera 'Premis' lived. The situation in these areas was described as tense but under control.

Additidonal forces have been deployed at Salabatpura in Bhatinda district, where the headquarters of Sacha Sauda in Punjab is located.

UNI VKJ VN1351