A violent clash erupted outside Gurudwara Janam Asthan Baba Deep Singh Ji at Pahawind village in Tarn Taran between Sikh youths and supporters of the president of the management committee this Sunday (Baba Deep Singh Ji’s birth anniversary). According to reports, tensions flared after a video of committee president, retd. Col Harsimran Singh went viral on social media. In the video, he could be seen purportedly asking a group of Sikh volunteers to remove a portrait of radical Sikh preacher Jarnail Singh Bhindrawale from the Gurudwara. After the volunteers’ refusal, the president himself removes the portrait.
After the video went viral, leaders of Sikh organisations led by SAD Amritsar’s Harpal Singh Bier, stormed the gurudwara, demanding an FIR against the president for hurting Sikh sentiments.
Police arrived and promptly escorted the president from the spot. As he was about to drive away, Sikh youths, carrying sticks and swords vandalised the retd. Colonel’s vehicle, but the police managed to successfully escort him to a safe place.
The police have not divulged further details or whether a FIR was registered or not. The gurudwara is not under the control of SGPC (Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee). Reportedly, injuries were sustained on both sides of the clash.