Riots Break Out In Punjab

[singh_comradz]

Please complain to the BBC regarding the below article

http://www.bbc.co.uk/complaints/complaints_stage1.shtml

Here is what i sent to them,

'I would like to complain about the grossly inaccurate coverage of the incident in Vienna and subsequent riots in Punjab. Your article states that a 'Sikh Guru' was killed. However in Sikhism, the present Guru is our Holy scriptures, known as Guru Granth Sahib Jee. Secondly you have mentioned that the violence was between higher and lower caste Sikhs. But Sikhism does not advocate the caste system. The group concerned in the incident, belong to the Ravidassi sect who have split from mainstream Sikhism. The person killed was revered as a Saint by the Ravidassi sect. I hope that you will promptly research and amend the inaccuracies in your coverage of recent events, in order to avoid offending the sentiments of the global Sikh community.'

Riots have broken out in almost all towns and cities in the Indian state of Punjab after a Sikh guru was killed by a rival group in a temple in Austria.

Thousands of angry protesters have taken to streets, damaging public property and setting trains on fire.

At least four people were injured when police opened fire at protesters who attacked a police station in Jalandhar.

The army has marched through the streets of Jalandhar city and a curfew is in place in four major towns.

Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appealed for calm.

Guru Sant Ramanand was attacked on Sunday in Vienna - during clashes at a religious ceremony - by six men armed with knives and a pistol.

Whatever the provocation, it is important to maintain peace and harmony among different sections of the people

He succumbed to his wounds in hospital early Monday.

Another preacher Sant Nirajnan Dass, who was among 15 other people injured, is said to be stable.

Both the preachers were from a low-caste Sikh sect which has a large following in parts of Punjab and had travelled to Vienna to conduct a special service.

The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, in Delhi, says several high caste Sikh groups had apparently opposed his presence and threatened violence.

Bonfire

Thousands of protesters carrying swords, steel rods and sticks are out on the streets in almost all major towns and cities, reports the BBC's Asit Jolly in Chandigarh, capital of Punjab state.

At least four trains have been attacked

All major highways are blocked by bonfires of tyres and sticks, and all main railways stations in the state are deserted, our correspondent says.

Police say a large showroom of Hyundai motors has been completely destroyed and trains have been attacked in at least four places.

Police said they fired at rioting mobs in two places in Jalandhar after coming under attack.

At least four people were wounded, they said.

The army and police have marched through the streets of Jalandhar and police say they have arrested six people for arson.

A curfew has been imposed in the cities of Jalandhar, Phagwara, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana.

The Delhi-Lahore bus has been stopped near the town of Ludhiana as a precautionary measure.

Violent demonstrations have also been reported in the towns of Amritsar, Patiala, Ferozepur, Bathinda and Nawanshahr.

'Distressed'

Chief Minister of Punjab Prakash Singh Badal has called an all-party meeting on Tuesday and PM Manmohan Singh has appealed for calm.

"I am deeply distressed by the outbreak of violence in Punjab following certain incidents in Vienna, Austria." Mr Singh said in a statement.

"Whatever the provocation, it is important to maintain peace and harmony among different sections of the people."

Mr Singh, a Sikh, said that Sikhism preached tolerance and harmony.

Guru Sant Ramanand and Sant Niranjan Dass were attacked on Sunday in Vienna.

Eyewitnesses said fundamentalist Sikhs from a higher caste attacked the preachers, who, they believed, were disrespectful of the Sikh holy book.

Police spokesman Michael Takacs said the scene was "like a battlefield". Six people have been detained, and more arrests were possible.

Several hundred worshippers were at the temple at the time of the attack.

The temple is situated in Vienna-Rudolfsheim, in the 15th district of the capital.

It is estimated that fewer than 3,000 Sikhs live in Austria.

The Rudolfsheim temple is run by devotees of Shri Guru Ravidas, who founded the Dera Sach Khand sect.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8066783.stm