Nanded Gurdwara violence: 14 people arrested for assault on policemen

On Tuesday, an official said that police have arrested 14 people for assaulting them with a sword. After expelling the Sikhs in Nanded, they have been refused to take out a public procession due to the COVID-19 epidemic.

The Wazirabad Police of Nanded district of Maharashtra has lodged three FIRs against 64 people (whose names have been recorded in the FIR) and other unidentified persons in connection with Monday’s incident at the Sri Hazur Sahib Gurdwara.

A viral video showed a swordsman outside the gurdwara breaking the barricade planted by the police and attacking the policemen.

Four constables were injured and six vehicles were also damaged in the violence. The condition of an injured policeman was critical.

The police were also trying to ascertain whether any person from the Gurdwara Committee had any role in the incident.

We have so far arrested 14 people under the provisions of murder, rioting and the provisions of the Arms Act and other sections. About 64 people have been named in the FIR, while the search is on for others, ‘Deputy Inspector General of Police,

The official said on Monday that the Hola Mohalla public procession was not allowed due to the corollavirus epidemic.

“The gurudwara committee was informed and they assured us that they would follow our instructions and organize events inside the gurdwara premises,” he said.

However, when Nishan Saheb was brought to the gate at around 4 pm on Monday, several participants started arguing and more than 300 youth created a ruckus outside the gate, broke barricades and started attacking policemen. , He said.

Nishan Sahib is a triangular saffron-colored flag that unfurls outside the gurdwara on a steel pillar covered with saffron cloth. The flag also has an insignia called Khanda in the middle, consisting of two swords and a circle.

Hola Mohalla (Hola) is a Sikh festival that comes a day after Holi.

Unlike Holi, when people sprinkle colored powder on each other, Hola Mohalla is an opportunity for Sikhs to showcase their martial skills.

Nanded is an important Sikh pilgrimage center as it is home to the sacred temple – Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Achal Nagar Sahib.

It was here that the 10th and last Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh (1666–1708), anointed the holy scripture Guru Granth Sahib as the eternal Guru of Sikhism and spent the last 14 months of his life.