Pardon to Dera chief: 3 Dal Khalsa leaders held in Amritsar

The move follows the attack on Keshgarh Sahib high priest Gaini Mal Singh three days ago by a pathi (one who recites the Gurbani).

Besides the three, two people who designed the posters used in the campaign, have also been arrested.

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The posters carried messages to boycott the high priests.

Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandak Committee (SGPC) president Avtar Singh Makkar had alleged that the attacker was motivated due to the growing opposition of the high priests on social media.

“The activities of Dal Khalsa leaders can harm religious and social fabric of the state. They had launched a poster campaign in Amritsar recently, for which we arrested two of its activists this morning. Some other leaders held a press conference in the evening and asserted they would spread this campaign in the whole state. We have therefore taken some of them in prevention detention so as to prevent a law and order problem in state,” said Dharumin Nimbale, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Amritsar.

He said the high priests or SGPC have not made any complaint on the issue.

Jathedar keeps away from yearly event

Amid rising tempers over the pardon to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim, the high priests are confined to their homes. Akal Takht Jathedar Gaini Gurbachan Singh has not attended any public meeting since the day the decision to pardon the Dera head was announced.

The Akal Takht Jathedar, who has always attended the observation of anniversary of hanging of Sikh militants Sukha and Jinda at Jande Bunge Gurudwara at Akal Takht every October 9, gave the event a miss on Friday. – ENS