Murder In Vienna: Indian Punjab Burns

A major clash has broken out between Sikh groups in India following the murder of a Sikh preacher, Dera Sachh Khand leader Sant Ram Nand (56), in Vienna. Four trains have been set on fire and several Indian towns in Punjab and Haryana have witnessed violence and damage to property by rioters.

(Meanwhile reports from London say that a Sikh temple there has been set on fire. Is it an accident or arson? See video here…)

In India “one person was killed and four others were injured as Army jawans opened fire in Lambra village, 30 kms from Jalandhar,” reports CNN-IBN. “Another person was killed after the police opened fire on protesters at Jalandhar Cantonment railway station.

“A mob set three bogies of the Kanyakumari-Jammu Tavi Express on fire as the train was passing through Phagwara in Punjab. Some vehicles, too, have been torched and roads blocked by protestors in Phagwara.

“Delhi-Lahore bus service has been stopped at Ludhiana as a precautionary measure in the wake of violence in Punjab.

“Curfew has been imposed in Phagwara, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Hoshiarpur following the violence in the area. Paramilitary forces have been sent to Phagwara to control violence.

“Chandigarh (capital of the states of Punjab and Haryana) is also on high alert with important roads leading to the city have been blocked.” More here…

The BBC reports: “Guru Sant Ramanand was attacked on Sunday in Vienna – during clashes at a religious ceremony – by six men armed with knives and a pistol. He succumbed to his wounds in hospital early Monday.

“Another preacher Sant Nirajnan Das, 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.” More here…

For some reactions to this violent episode, please click here…

(Photo above shows train set on fire at Jalandhar — NDTV/AFP)