20 injured as Dera followers clash with Sikhs

CHANDIGARH: At least 20 people were injured on Monday, 11 of them seriously, when Dera Sacha Sauda followers clashed with a group of Sikhs, who objected to their performing of a religious discourse in Punjab's Mansa district.

The groups pelted stones at each other and used batons at Alampur Madira village before police reached the spot.

The clash took place after some villagers objected to the performing of 'naam charcha' by a Dera follower Lilly, district police chief Ram Singh told.

Soon the Dera followers and the Sikhs clashed using batons and pelted stones at each other resulting in serious injuries to 11 people, he said.

The Dera, embroiled in a controversy with Sikhs following the alleged imitation by its head Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh of their tenth Guru Govind Singh, has been claiming that Akalis are not allowing its 'premis' (followers) to perform 'naam charcha' and also threatening its members to return to the Sikh fold, a charge denied by the state government.

The police chief said no arrests have been made so far but a case will be registered according to the provisions of the law.

Jathedar Balwant Singh Nandgarh of Damdama Sahib, when contacted, refused to comment on the incident.