SAD leaders run for cover to escape protesters' wrath

KAPURTHALA: A day after the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief urged party leaders to go and soothe the frayed tempers of the people, some party leaders attending a function at a gurdwara had a taste of the people's ire.
Faced with the wrath of Sikh protesters who stormed into a local gurdwara moments after the bhog of Akhand Path organized by Shiromani Akali Dal got over, the party men ran for cover, some not even bothering to put on their shoes.
A few dozen protesters from different Sikh organizations, including SAD (Amritsar) were stopped on the road road leading to the shrine by cops. Though they told the cops that they wanted to put some questions to the Akali leaders, they were not allowed to proceed further. Finally, the protesters scaled the barricades and entered the gurdwara.
Former SGPC president Bibi Jagir Kaur, addressing the gathering at the gurdwara, had urged the people to be wary of the forces trying to "divide the Sikhs".
Seeing the angry protesters, SAD leaders, including Bibi Jagir Kaur, former MLA and Kapurthala district planning committee chairman Sarabjit Singh Makkar, former minister Dr Upinderjit Kaur, SGPC member Sarwan Singh Kular rushed towards their cars.
The vehicles of SGPC member Sarwan Singh and local Akali leader Harvinder Kaur were damaged while some Akali leaders were heckled. Police rounded up over a dozen protesters from the gurdwara.
Later, SAD leaders called a press conference and said that it was against the Sikh principles to stop anybody from holding a congregation in a gurdwara.
Local Akali leader Amarjit Singh Dhapai, who was also present in the present conference, alleged that he was assaulted by the protestors and showed some bruises. A case of attempt to murder was registered in the evening on Dhapai's complaint. The protesters were also booked for hurting religious sentiments, rioting and damaging property. Police claimed that section pertaining to hurting of religious sentiments was included as the complaint said the protesters entered the gurdwara with their shoes on. However, the photographs of the protesters inside the gurudwara and outside the barricade show them to be barefooted.
Kapurthala SSP Rajinder Singh said that 16 people have been arrested.