Supporters of the Nakli-Nihangs attacking Satkar Committee Sevadars, one Singh was seriously injured during the attack
Sri Amritsar Sahib (KP) - Members of Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee clashed with members of a pseudo-Nihang Dera in Mehta that had locked up sacred Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and stopped doing their Parkash at the Gurdwara Sahib. There were also complaints that the Gurdwara had became a place for anti-Gurmat acitivities.
The Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee (India) has been engaged in increasing veneration of Guru Granth Sahib at different places throughout Punjab for a long time. Volunteers of the organization work actively with different Panthic organizations and ensure that proper care is provided to saroops of Guru Granth Sahib wherever parkash is done.
In the past, the Satkar Committee has brought to light some of the most horrendous incidents which have shocked Sikhs worldwide. Amongst many such operations, the most prominent ones include the expose of Delhi Shiromani Gurdwara Management Committee and the blasphemous business of Chattar Singh Jeevan Singh and Sons located in Sri Amritsar.
Just this past week, after receiving complaints from local residents, the volunteers of the Satkar Committee launched another project to maintain respect of Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s saroops at Gurdwara Singh Bela, located close to Chownk Mehta, which is under the rule of Nihang Baba Sukha Singh. According to complaints by the local Sangat, and observations by the Satkar Committee members, the Nihangs under Baba Sukha Singh weren't providing proper care to the saroops of Guru Granth Sahib and when intervention was sought to rectify this wrongdoing, a huge clash occurred between the Satkar Committee activists who were being supported by local Sangat and the pseudo-mahants of Gurdwara Singh Bela.
The incident took place around 6 AM in the morning when about twenty-five Satkar Committee activists approached Nihang Baba Sukha Singh at his headquarters at Gurdwara Sri Guru Hargobindgarh regarding the issue. Although initially talk started swiftly, the incident took a violent turn after disagreements ensued.
The clash became so callous that blind gun fire by Nihangs almost took the life of one Singh as he was shot in his kidney. Bhai Gurdeyal Singh, age 35, son of Bhai Natha Singh of village Nadala Distt. Kapurthala had to be admitted to Sri Guru Ramdaas Sahib hospital in Sri Amritsar. The incident was brought under control after invention by Mehta Chownk Police. Bhai Gurdeyal Singh had to undergo an immediate operation but he is still in critical condition.
After the incident, Nihangs Baba Sukha Singh and Baba Sukhwinder Singh were both transported to a safe place to ensure no further incidents take place. Baba Sukha Singh, who enjoys close proximity with Government Officials, had filed a case against Baba Balbir Singh Mucchal, President of Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee under penal code section DEB, C2G, CIB, ADH, ADI. In addition, at least another 15 members of the Satkar Committee have also been booked while the clash had left a number severely injured.
The Satkar Committee activists have had to face Punjab Police backlash quite often as they are committed to preserving the respect of Guru Granth Sahib. During several incidents in the past, the volunteers of the Committee have also taken actions against Government sponsored deras which were not preserving proper maryada. Although Akal Takhat Sahib also bars parkash of Guru Granth Sahib at such places, it has come to light that individuals such as Parkash Badal, Sukhbir Badal, Surinder Badal, Avtar Makkar, including appointed Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti visit deras where Guru Granth Sahib Ji’s parkash is done despite a lack of implementation of proper maryada. The recent incident involving Baba Sulakhan Sinh (of village Panjwar, near Tarn Taaran Sahib) exposed the hypocrisy of Jathedar Vedanti and the Badals. During the incident, which was also reported by Panthic Weekly in detail, several activists of the Satkar Committee were booked by the police and several were injured during the violent clash which included blind firing.
Bhai Amrik Singh, Jathedar Damdami Taksal (Third Faction) had became a target of the police during the Baba Sulakhan Sinh Dera campaign and had to go underground. Baba Balbir Singh, who is a close associate of Bhai Amrik Singh, had to face serious consequences in the case but he remained committed to the cause. Following the expose of Baba Sulakhan Sinh, Jathedar Vedanti also tried to summon activists of the Satkar Committee but failed as the Sikh Sangat provided support to the cause.
Sikh Sangat in Punjab and outside is appealed to join in the cause with the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee and ensure that respect of Guru Granth Sahib is preserved. Sikh organizations should also come together to support the activists and provide assistance to those injured during the clash.