New Delhi: After two days of pitched street battles between the Sikh community and the followers of spiritual sect Dera Sacha Sauda across Punjab, the state remained tense on Thursday.
Heavy security presence was seen on streets as Sikh religious leaders met to decide the course of action to to decide on the reaction of the Sikh community to the Dera godman - Gurmit Ram Rahim - attiring himself like the revered 10th Sikh guru, Gobind Singh.
The Akal Takht - the highest temporal seat of Sikh community - has called for the meeting of the community at Takht Damdama Sahib at Talwandi Sabo near Bathinda, 250 km from Chandigarh.
Five high level Sikh priests held the crucial meeting in to sort out the row triggered by the Dera Sacha Sauda community leader's controversial attire.
The meeting in Talwandi Sabo was attended by representatives from various Sikh bodies.
Earlier, hardline Sikh organisations like Damdami Taksal demanded the Sikh community "teach a lesson to the godman".
"We want the arrest of this man. We are capable of teaching him a lesson," Taksal chief HS Bhindranwale was quoted by agencies as saying.
SGPC President Avtar Singh Makkar also took a tough stance on Thursday morning. “We will not spare the Dera Sacha Sauda leader,” he told CNN-IBN.
Dera followers and leaders are also meeting later in the day at Sirsa in Haryana to finalise their stand.
Clashes between the Akalis and followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda continue several days after akalis protested against the Dera head appearing dressed as the 10th guru.
How it began
Punjab witnessed violence in several towns and cities over the last three days when Dera chief appeared publicly in the garb of the 10th Sikh guru, upsetting the Sikh community.
The ensuing violence left over 50 people as well as policemen injured.
Followers of the Dera laid siege to Bathinda town on Monday and Tuesday and clashed with the police. They damaged public property extensively before retreating.
As a face saving measure aimed at pacifying the Sikh community, the Bathinda police on Wednesday night registered cases of violence against over 3,000 Dera followers.
Sikhs have taken to the streets in various towns and cities across Punjab and other parts of the country, burning effigies of the sect godman.
Sikh activists resorted to violence in Amritsar and Patiala on Wednesday and forced shopkeepers to down shutters.
(With agency inputs)
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