1,700 Sikh pilgrims cross over to Pakistan

Attari(Amritsar), Nov 4: Undeterred by suicide attack at Wagah two days ago, a group of 1,700 Sikh pilgrims on Tuesday crossed over to Pakistan by a special train to visit Nankana Sahib to observe the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev.

Sikh pilgrims, under the banner of SGPC, DSGMC and others, are going to Nankana Sahib, the birth place of Guru Nanak Dev in Pakistan, said an official at Attari railway station here.

In the wake of deadliest attack at Wagah border in which 60 people lost their lives, Pakistan government has made elaborate arrangements for Sikh pilgrims and tight cover of security will be provided to them while moving in that country, an SGPC official said.

Special commandos of Pakistan police would move with the Sikh pilgrims, he said. Sikh pilgrims would not be allowed to move alone during their stay in Pakistan and this time, due to security reasons, they would be moving in group, the official said.

All the entry points of Sikh Gurdwara Nankana Sahib are sealed as nobody is being allowed without proper identification and heavy police force has been deployed there, he added.

Sikh pilgrims will observe the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev at Gurdwara Nankana Sahib on November 6. Devotees would also go to various sikh shrines located in the different provinces of Pakistan and they will return India on November 13, he said.

PTI