60 Sikh activists booked over clash

Amid allegations and counter charges after a clash between the SGPC task force and members of Sikh organisations protesting over the missing ‘saroops’, the SGPC has got registered an FIR against 50-60 activists. Following the altercation that left at least 15 persons injured, the protesters were disbursed and the site of the protest, opposite the Teja Singh Samundri Hall, was barricaded. Declaring a ‘blanket ban’ on holding any protest inside the Golden Temple complex in future, SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal alleged the clash took place under the patronage of the Congress leadership which intended to vitiate the atmosphere. He alleged armed with ‘kirpans’ and sticks, the activists attacked the staff members, including a ‘dharmi fauji’. Those booked included Sukhjit Singh Khosa, Dilbagh Singh, Manjit Singh Jhabbal , Baljit Singh Muchhal, Manjit Kaur, Lakhbir Singh and 50 others.