‘Saroop’ row: Protesters’ march to Rajasthan foiled

Abohar, November 6

In the ongoing dispute regarding a ‘saroop’ of Guru Granth Sahib kept in a controversial religious place in a village, the Sriganganagar district administration today did not allow Sikh leaders of Punjab and Haryana to enter the city.

District Collector Mahabir Prasad Verma had late last night imposed prohibitory orders to maintain law and order and deputed 11 Executive Magistrates. Bikaner Division Commissioner Bhanwer Lal also banned the Internet services late last night for 24 hours.

The ‘Panj Pyaras’ who brought a palanquin from Amritsar had to stay back in Punjab on the Abohar-Sriganganagar highway as the police had erected barricades near Sadhuwali village on the interstate border. Hundreds of policemen were present throughout the day on the highway. Around 200 Sikhs staged a dharna near the border and demanded that they be allowed to move to Chak 11-G village to collect the ‘saroop’ from the controversial site. — OC