Devotees relent, receiver takes control of shrine

[me moorakh mugadh]

TALHAN (Jalandhar): The district administration and police succeeded in persuading the devotees on Friday to let the receiver take control of the shrine. The devotees had locked the shrine from inside on Thursday after its management committee had handed over its control to Damdami Taksal.

The curfew was still in force in the village.

All the 112 devotees, including women, children and the regular shrine staff, agreed to open the gate at about 3 pm after persistent mediation of the senior police officers and panthic leaders, including Harminder Singh Gill, Bhai Manjit Singh and Bhai Ajaib Singh. No use of force was required to convince the devotees, said the officials.

There were reports earlier during the day that the police were using coercive measures to break the impasse. Surjit Kaur, who came out on seeing the group of media persons earlier in the day, said that the police had been pressurising her to persuade her husband to come out. About 10-12 Jat youths had also raised slogans and said they would not tolerate the government’s interference in their religious affairs.

Senior officers, including divisional commissioner RS Sandhu and the deputy commissioner Ashok Kumar Gupta, had strongly hinted at the "breakthrough" during the briefing to the press at Circuit House in the afternoon. At about 5.30 pm the media persons were taken to the village where they were allowed inside the shrine. The regular ardas was performed even as the three akhand paths were in progress as per the Sikh religious code.

In the presence of senior police officers, including Jalandhar Range IG with additional charge JP Birdi, DIG

Dinker Gupta and SSP Harpreet Singh Sidhu, the DC said that the receiver IS Kahlon appointed by the government on Thursday had formally taken charge and would manage the shrine through maryada and management committees by the administration. The golak would also be opened as per maryada and in the presence of members of maryada and the management committee, he said. The two committees comprised the village residents.

The officials denied acceding to any conditions and as such no assurance was given to the holed up devotees. It was an impasse that has been diffused, said Gupta. The "breakthrough" was the outcome of the persistent negotiations with those inside for the last about 24 hours, the officials claimed. Besides misgivings about the role of the receiver, they were reportedly demanding release of the Jat members of the shrine management committee arrested on Wednesday.

Dinker Gupta said that clear-cut instructions were given to the force to maintain utmost restraint whatever the provocation. Though the administration has yet to decide about the annual mela at the shrine but it seems the same was unlikely in view of continuation of the curfew for a couple of days. However, the period of relaxation may be increased.