JAMMU: Sikhs of Jammu and Kashmir strongly condemned the cowardly and highly outrageous act of communal miscreants at a Gurdwara in Kishtwar yesterday.
During a press conference held at Press Club Jammu on Friday, the President State Gurdwara Board Tarlochan Singh Wazir and others said that Sikhs are peace loving citizens of this country who respect all religions and are proud of not vandalising the places of worship of other religions and expect that they are also treated the same way. They said that such an incident in this volatile State is bound to have serious implications.
Wazir said that Gurdwara exists there since 1916 the land for which was gifted by two devotees Nand Lal (5 Marlas) and Buby Chand (1 Kanal 11 Marlas). Agreement for the same was done in the Court in the year 1916 and since then all the religious rituals (Kirtan and Akhand Path Sahib) are being performed there regularly. In 1983 renovation work started and in 1987 slab was laid where Sewa was performed by Attar Singh and his family.
He further said that during reconstruction of old building of Bunga Sahib some miscreants led by one Chanderkant started interfering and attempted to create trouble but the matter was taken to Court which is still pending.
Since the miscreants continued to threaten Granthis and Sewadars, a complaint was filed by Attar Singh on 29th April 2014 but no action was taken by the authorities. Emboldened by the inaction of the police the same goons on 30th April, 2015 forcibly entered the Gurdwara Sahib, brutally beat up the Granthi, vandalised the Gurdwara Sahib and even committed sacrilegious acts.
Wazir urged the Govt, in general and BJP in particular to take stern action against the culprits and book them under relevant provisions of law to restore the confidence of Sikh community.
KISHTWAR: In connection with tension between Hindu and Sikh community regarding interference within the Gurudwara premises through some local elements of Hindu community by forcibly break opening the locks of the rooms, throwing out belongings harassing and thrashing the family of Sewadaar Shaddi Lal Singh the members of Sikh Community met DDC, SSP Kishtwar and MLC Firdous Ahmed Tak.
The DDC observed the situation of the incident and discussed openly with the accused and assured the victims of providing security arrangements and also restricted the outsider’s interference with in the Gurudwara premises till the issue gets solved. The DDC decided the final date of the decision and settlement of issue on 10th of may, 2015.
Among those who met the DDC include Gurucharan Singh Chairman Gurudwara Parbhandak Comittee Kishtwar, Bacchan Singh Vice President, Attar Singh General Secreatry , Narinder Singh, Gulab Singh, Gurdeep Singh, Shadi Lal Singh Sewedaar and Prakash Singh.