Police target Sikh radical bodies, nearly 25 activists rounded up
Those detained include several activists of Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee
AMRITSAR:: As the hand of separatist forces is being suspected in the Rajasansi grenade attack that killed three followers of Nirankari sect on Sunday, police on Tuesday morning launched a crackdown on Sikh hardliners, including members of Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee. A police official said nearly 25 activists of different radical Sikh organisations have been rounded up.
As the members of Satkar Committee and Nirankari sect followers are at loggerheads over construction of a prayer centre at Tapiala village in the vicinity of Rajasansi, activists of the Sikh religious body are under the lens. Activists of the committee, along with members of Sikh seminary Damdami Taksal, had opposed the Nirankari prayer hall at the village recently.
Committee activists Kuldeep Singh Mode, Baba Rajan and Satnam Singh Lopoke were detained on the day attack took place. Sukhjit Singh Khose of the Satkar Committee said about a dozen members of the body are in police custody.
Apart from this, police conducted raids at the houses of youth leaders of Sikh radical organisations in the wee hours of Tuesday. The police raided houses of Paramjit Singh Mand, president of Sikh Youth of Punjab, a wing of Dal Khalsa; and Gurjant Singh, head of the Amritsar unit of the outfit. Mand was not present at home, while Gurjant Singh was taken into custody.
Raids were also conducted at the houses of members of Damdami Taksal, Jatha Himmat-eKhalsa and Jatha Sirlath. Ranjit Singh of Sikh Youth Federation (Bhindranwale) went to the Civil Lines police station at about 1pm as asked.
They were reportedly released after questioning.
A police official said 25 activists of different outfits have been rounded up in the Majha region. Inspector general (border range) Surinderpal Singh Parmar said the police were questioning the activists.