dan
June 14th, 2003, 01:47 AM
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/cms.dll/html/uncomp/articleshow?msid=22044
Stand-off over, Talhan gurudwara seize ends
IANS[ FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2003 09:52:31 PM ]
CHANDIGARH: Tension ran high on Friday at Talhan village in Punjab when about 150 armed men and some women were flushed out of the gurudwara that has been at the centre of caste violence in Jalandhar district.
The armed men had holed up in the gurudwara at Talhan, 155 km from here, since Thursday and had refused to let the state government appointed receiver take over the management of the shrine.
The women even threatened to immolate themselves if the receiver tried to enter the shrine.
The Damdami Taksal had tried to take over the gurdwara but the Punjab government, in a pre-emptive move, appointed a receiver on Thursday.
The police succeeded on Friday evening in persuading the men and women to come out of the gurdwara.
Violence broke out June 5 at Talhan village following clashes between Jat Sikhs, who comprise the landed gentry, and Dalits, or the socially marginalised, over the management of the gurdwara.
Following the state government's intervention, two Sikh Dalits had been accommodated in the gurdwara's management committee, dominated by Jat Sikhs.
Talhan witnessed violence because of the rivalry between the Dalits, who comprise 85 per cent of the village's population, and the Jat Sikhs.
The violence spread to Jalandhar city, leading to police firing in which a Davit youth was killed. Several people were injured in the violence that continued for four days.
An uneasy calm now prevails in Talhan as a large contingent of police has been deployed there.
A curfew imposed earlier was relaxed from some time Friday but was it was re-enforced in the evening.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh visited Talhan on Wednesday to review the situation there.
Stand-off over, Talhan gurudwara seize ends
IANS[ FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 2003 09:52:31 PM ]
CHANDIGARH: Tension ran high on Friday at Talhan village in Punjab when about 150 armed men and some women were flushed out of the gurudwara that has been at the centre of caste violence in Jalandhar district.
The armed men had holed up in the gurudwara at Talhan, 155 km from here, since Thursday and had refused to let the state government appointed receiver take over the management of the shrine.
The women even threatened to immolate themselves if the receiver tried to enter the shrine.
The Damdami Taksal had tried to take over the gurdwara but the Punjab government, in a pre-emptive move, appointed a receiver on Thursday.
The police succeeded on Friday evening in persuading the men and women to come out of the gurdwara.
Violence broke out June 5 at Talhan village following clashes between Jat Sikhs, who comprise the landed gentry, and Dalits, or the socially marginalised, over the management of the gurdwara.
Following the state government's intervention, two Sikh Dalits had been accommodated in the gurdwara's management committee, dominated by Jat Sikhs.
Talhan witnessed violence because of the rivalry between the Dalits, who comprise 85 per cent of the village's population, and the Jat Sikhs.
The violence spread to Jalandhar city, leading to police firing in which a Davit youth was killed. Several people were injured in the violence that continued for four days.
An uneasy calm now prevails in Talhan as a large contingent of police has been deployed there.
A curfew imposed earlier was relaxed from some time Friday but was it was re-enforced in the evening.
Chief Minister Amarinder Singh visited Talhan on Wednesday to review the situation there.