Dera-Sikh row erupts again but nipped in bud

Dera-Sikh row erupts again but nipped in bud
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, August 6
Tension gripped the city after a stand-off over the bhog ceremony of a Dera Sacha Sauda follower at his residence in Basant Vihar, here today. Alert policemen, however, ensured that the situation did not get out of hand.
As per the details available, Tek Chand, an aged follower of the Dera had died a couple of days back. After receiving the permission of the district administration, his family members arranged a bhog ceremony for today, at their residence in Basant Vihar.
Soon after, Sikhs started gathering at the gurudwara in Qila Mubarak. Sensing the gravity of the situation, heavy police force was deployed and the area was cordoned off. All the streets were barricaded and no one, including milk men and vegetable venders, was allowed to enter the area. Even shopkeepers were urged by the police to roll down the shutters. Sensing the tense situation, some people in the locality even moved out. To maintain law and order, three officers of the rank of superintendents of police were present at the spot. The bhog ceremony, which was to end at 1 pm, was made to conclude earlier, at 11.30 am, by the police. With the active role of police and the administration, the day passed off peacefully. When asked, SP (City) Narender Kaushal said, "To manage things peacefully, no one other than those permitted were allowed to visit the locality. We were well equipped to handle any situation and at least 300 policemen were deployed."
Dera, Sikh row erupted in the recent past too but a determined administration did not allow it to get out of hand.