Timely intervention defuses tension

Timely intervention defuses tension
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 30
Tension gripped the city as the Dera-Sikh controversy surfaced again, this time in Bhai Mati Das Nagar here, late in the evening. A group of Dera followers allegedly pelted stones at the house of a municipal councillor (MC) and in retaliation, a group of Sikhs allegedly pelted stones at the house of a Dera follower, believed to be their leader, in the locality.
Nearly 30 Dera followers were holding a meeting at street number 15A in Bhai Mati Das Nagar, at the house of a Dera follower, Veerpal Kaur. After receiving information about the meeting, the Sikh residents of the area gathered outside her house and reportedly asked that they stop their meeting. This triggered a stand-off in the area.
The Dera followers informed the police about the incident and in charge of police post, Civil Lines, Bhagwant Singh, along with his police team, reached the spot. After the intervention of the police, the Dera followers left the house where the prayer meeting was being held. Meanwhile ASP (City) Harsh Kumar Bansal and SHO Kotwali police station, Davinder Pal reached the spot.
The Dera followers while on their way back allegedly pelted stones at the house of MC Sukhdev Singh Gill. In retaliation, the Sikhs in the area reportedly decided to counter it through an announcement at the gurudwara in the locality.
After this, Sikhs gathered in large numbers and moved towards the house of a Dera follower, Sunder Singh Jamwat, who runs a provision store. The Sikh group started pelting stones at his shop and house.
Policemen on motorcycles, felt helpless and it was only after the arrival of the force in huge numbers, including commandos, that the mob was made to disperse.
Jamwat later told the media that he did not have rivalry with anyone and charged that even he along with his family members was abused and stones were pelted at his house. His wife alleged, “The MC of the area and others abused us and continued to pelt stones despite our repeated pleas.” She also showed broken glasses of windowpanes and stones that had allegedly entered their living room after the stone pelting incident. Jamwat has submitted a written complaint to the ASP (City) addressed to SSP, Bathinda.
On his part, the municipal councilor of the area, Sukhdev Singh Gill, said, “I was resting at my house, when all of a sudden, a group of Dera followers pelted stones, one of which injured me. After the incident, they ran away. We retaliated only after they took this step.”
ASP (City), Harsh Kumar Bansal said, “As soon as we received the information, we rushed to the spot with a large number of police force. The situation is under control and no untoward incident would be permitted to take place at any cost.”