Discussions on Nanakshahi calender by DSGMC

Punjab town tense after Sikh group-Dera followers clash

There was heavy police presence in Moga and the nearby Dhauleke village on Tuesday, a day after clashes between followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect and a radical Sikh group left over a dozen people injured. Followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda, which has its headquarter in Haryana's Sirsa town, are demanding action against members of the Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj, a radical Sikh organisation, for allegedly disrupting their religious function at Dhauleke village Sunday. They also accuse the group of burning the effigy of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

Members of both groups clashed at Dhauleke village on Monday, injuring over a dozen people and some policemen. Agitators also set a Punjab roadways bus on fire and damaged some private vehicles in Moga, around 250 km from the state capital Chandigarh. 

with thanks : Hindustan Times : link above for detailed news.

Reward offered in Calif. shooting of 2 Sikh men

ELK GROVE, Calif. (AP) — The Council on American-Islamic Relations has offered a $5,000 reward after two Sikh men were gunned down — one of them fatally — on a sidewalk in a Northern California suburb.

The executive director of the council's Sacramento Valley chapter noted that Sikh men in beards and turbans are often targeted by those who mistake them for Muslims.

"The Muslim community offers its condolences and support to the Sikh community in this time of sorrow," Basim Elkarra said.

The reward for information leading to a conviction in the Friday afternoon shooting in Elk Grove comes as police cautioned there was no evidence it was a hate crime. However, the Sacramento suburb's police chief, Robert Lehner, said there was no other apparent motive.

 

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Followers hold congregation amid protest

FEROZEPUR: In the wake of approaching assembly elections in the state, the ''reported understanding'' between SAD and Dera Sacha Sauda helped the followers of the latter successfully hold a naam charcha (congregation) in the community centre of Bajidpur village, near the historical Jamni Sahib Gurdwara, here, on Sunday.

The congregation, attended by more than 1,000 premis, was organized under a heavy police protection. When members of various Sikh organizations learned about it, they, including women, reached Bajidpur village and tried to disturb the congregation, but were checked by senior police officers. The Sikh protesters then blocked Ferozepur-Moga GT Road to mark their protest against it

With thanks : TOI : link above for detailed news.

Two Sikh men in Sacramento gunned down, possible hate crime

Police said Saturday that they don't know why someone gunned down two men – frail from heart attacks and advancing years – as they slowly ambled through a quiet Elk Grove neighborhood during their daily afternoon walk.

Surinder Singh, 67, died Friday afternoon on the sidewalk along East Stockton Boulevard near Geneva Pointe Drive. Gurmej Atwal, his 78-year-old friend, was shot twice in the chest. His family said he was in critical but stable condition.

with thanks : sacbee : link above for detailed news.

SGPC gives Rs 2L to each victim after 26 years

AMRITSAR: Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Friday announced a compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the family members of the victims of the Hondh Chillar incident that saw 32 innocent Sikhs massacred on November 2, 1984.While the killers have not yet been identified, Haryana government had compensated them in 2006.The SGPC also announced to raise a memorial at the pogrom site in Rewari district of Haryana after the "bhog" of "Akhand path" in the memory of the victims.

Sikh's prominent seminary Damdami Taksal president Harnam Singh Khalsa has demanded that an all-party delegation should visit the site. Addressing the gathering, Jathedar of Akal Takht Giani Gurbachan Singh said that efforts should be initiated to free the Sikh's languishing in jails for a long time. He said, "Traditional arms are required to protect oneself and others and not the television."

He honoured relatives of the victims: Inder Singh, Balwant Singh, Harnam Singh, Parap Singh, Savan Singh, Uttam Singh, Prem Singh, Chattar Singh, Kesar Singh and Ranjit Singh – with siropas. SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar said that the carnage of 32 Sikhs was adeliberate act of brutality. 

with thanks : TOI : link above for detailed news.

Singapore appoints Sikh as its Army chief

SINGAPORE: Singapore has appointed Brigadier General Ravider Singh as its next Army chief, the first Sikh in 30 years to be given the force's baton.

Singh, 41, takes over from Major-General Chan Chun Sing on March 25, Straits Times reported.

A Singaporean of Indian origin, Singh, is currently deputy secretary (technology) at the defence ministry. He joined the Singapore Armed Forces in December 1982.

Singh also served as assistant chief of General Staff (plans), head of Joint Communications and Information Systems Department, and chief of staff - joint staff.

with thanks : TOI : link above for detailed news.

High Court issues notice to Haryana state

CHANDIGARH: In the writ petition demanding a judicial probe into the horrific killing of Sikhs in village Hondh-Chillar in Rewari District, Haryana on November 2, 1984, the Bench of Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice Augustine George Masih of Punjab and Haryana High Court have issued notice to the State of Haryana.

On February 23, 2011 Sikhs for Justice and All India Sikh Student Federation moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court demanding the judicial probe into the killings of Sikhs in village Hondh-Chillar. In a Civil writ petition filed with the Punjab and Haryana High Court, Sikhs for Justice and All India Sikh Student Federation demanded an enquiry from a retired High Court Judge to be assisted by the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Representing the petitioners, Counsel Navkiran Singh told the court that the FIR dated November 3, 1984, registered under Sections 148, 149, 302, 436 and 34 of the IPC at the Jatusana police station had not been investigated properly. None of the eyewitnesses or survivors was ever contacted by the police.

On November 2, 1984 in an organized attack the entire Sikh population of village Hondh- Chillar, then district Mahendergarh presently falling under district Rewari, Haryana was massacred and their dwellings and the Gurudwara were burnt down.  

with thanks : punjabnewsline : link above for detailed news.

Commission of Inquiry to probe 1984 killing of Sikhs in Haryana village

ROHTAK: Realising the gravity of the incident of carnage of Sikh families in a hamlet in Rewari district of Haryana as the state government has decided to institute a probe to retired judge of high court 27 years after the incident.

Haryana chief minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Saturday announced that a commission of inquiry, consisting of Justice TP Garg, (retired), Judge of Punjab and Haryana high court, has been appointed for the purpose of making an inquiry into the killing of innocent Sikhs in Hond-Chillar village in district Rewari and damage caused to properties of Sikhs living there during the incidents of violence on November 2, 1984.

The incident occurred in the aftermath of the assassination of the then prime minister Indira Gandhi when an armed mob murdered about 32 persons and virtually wiped out entire hamlet. The incident was brought to light recently by a Sikh body after which various organizations including the SGPC raked up the issue and traced out the survivors of the incident. 

with thanks : TOI : link above for detailed news.

Ardass Diwas held at Akal Takht for the first time in 26 years

Ardass Diwas was held at the Akal Takht here for the first time in 26 years on Friday to honour the more than 30 people who were killed Hond-Chillar village in Rewari District at the height of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots.

The event was organized and observed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbhandhak committee (SGPC).

with thanks : SIFY : link above for detailed news.


 SikhsIndia

Badal demands judicial probe into Hond Chillar killings

Panchkula, Mar 4 (PTI) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today demanded a judicial probe into the killing of 32 Sikhs in a Haryana village during 1984 riots terming the incident as the result of a premeditated conspiracy.

Talking to reporters after participating in a collective prayer held at a gurdwara here in the memory of Sikhs killed at Hond Chillar village in Haryana''s Rewari district in the riots, Badal said the "heinous and unpardonable act was part of a premeditated conspiracy."

Demanding an inquiry into the incident by a sitting judge of the Supreme Court, the Chief Minister said it was needed to bring the guilty to book.

Accompanied by his Advisor Daljit Singh Cheema, Badal earlier attended Gurdwara Nada Sahib to take part in the collective Ardas ceremony in the memory of riot victims of Hond Chillar village.

Meanwhile, an Ardas was also organized at Akal Takht (the highest Sikh Temporal seat) for those killed during the riots in Hond Chillar village.

with thanks : MSN : link above for detailed news.

SikhsIndia