Nanded gurdwara violence: 14 arrested for attacking policemen
Police has arrested 14 people in connection with an attack on policemen by a mob of sword-wielding Sikhs in Nanded after they were denied permission to hold a public procession due to the COVID-19 pandemic, an official said on Tuesday. The Wazirabad Police in Maharashtra's Nanded district has registered three FIRs against 64 people (named in the FIRs) and other unidentified persons.
The incident was caught on video which later went viral
Monday's incident happened at the Sri Hazur Sahib gurdwara. A viral video showed the sword-wielding mob barging out of the gurdwara, breaking the barricades put up by police, and attacking the policemen. Four constables were injured and six vehicles were also damaged in the violence. The condition of one of the injured policemen was serious, the official said.
Around 64 people have been named in the FIR
The police were also trying to ascertain if anyone from the gurdwara committee was involved."We have arrested 14 people till now on charges of attempt to murder, rioting, and under provisions of the Arms Act and other sections. "Around 64 people have been named in the FIR, while search is on for others," Deputy Inspector General of Police, Nanded Range, Nisar Tamboli told PTI.
Gurdwara committee had already been informed about the decision
The official on Monday said permission for the Hola Mohalla public procession was not granted due to the coronavirus pandemic. "Permission for the Hola Mohalla public procession was not granted due to the pandemic. The gurdwara committee was informed and they had assured us that they would abide by our directives and hold the event inside the gurdwara premises," Tamboli told PTI.
300 youth stormed out, broke barricades and attacked policemen
"However, when the Nishan Sahib was brought at the gate around 4 pm, several participants started arguing and over 300 youth stormed out of the gate, broke the barricades, and began attacking the policemen," he said.
The Sikh festival Hola Mohalla comes a day after Holi
Nishan Sahib is a triangular saffron-colored flag furling outside a gurdwara on a steel pole covered with a saffron-colored cloth. The flag also has an insignia called Khanda in the middle. Hola Mohalla, a huge event for Sikhs around the world, is a three-day-long festival that usually starts a day after Holi. It can sometimes coincide with Holi.
Nanded is an important Sikh pilgrimage center
Nanded is an important Sikh pilgrimage center as it is home to a sacred shrine, the Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchal Nagar Sahib. It was here that the tenth and last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666-1708), anointed the holy book Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru of Sikhism and spent the last 14 months of his life.
