PANTHIC.org

Tarn Taran, Punjab (KP) - There seems to be no end to the self-styled babas and deras that are emerging in Punjab every day. These masands who at one time were burnt alive during the time of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, rose again to claim the lives of Sikhs during the Nankana Sahib Saka . During another similar incident that took place recently, the determination of the Khalsa was again tested when sevadaars (volunteers) of the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee campaigned against another such pakhandi mahant. As in the past, these masands continue to receive the open support of the government administrations despite their anti-Panthic and anti-social activities.

Parkash of Guru Granth Sahib at Father's Samadh

Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee sevadaars discovered that Sulakhan Singh, a self-styled Guru, has been operating a dera with a “Gurdwara” at the samadh (tomb) of his father Baba Kundan Singh, with parkash of Guru Granth Sahib Ji. At his dera, located in the village of Panjwar, the Baba was reportedly giving out shabads and mantars (puchaa'n), and practicing exorcisms.

The Baba had been approached by the Satkar Committee members and the local Sangat for an explanation of his practices and was told that the Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib needed to be removed, but he continuously ignored the concerned Sikh Sangat. When the Committee decided to file a police complaint, it enraged the baba and his supporters. In retaliation, they attacked four Committee members outside some public offices near Jhabbal on September the 7th.

Sulakhan's Gangsters Attack Committee Sevadaars

Baba Sulakhan Sinh, Capt. Mangal Sinh, Manjit Sinh, Piara Sinh, Karam Sinh, Dibagh Sinh and others came fully armed with firearms, swords and others weapons, and attacked the unsuspecting sevadaars during broad daylight.

In the confrontation, Bhai Sarabjit Singh of the Satkar Committee was shot by Karam Sinh, one of Baba’s gunmen. In self defense, the rest of the Singhs immediately tried to unarm the miscreants, and in the ensuing melee, the Baba’s gunmen accidentally pulled the trigger and shot Baba Sulakhan Sinh in the shoulder.

After some struggle, the sevadars bravely overpowered the Baba’s armed supporters, a move that prevented further casualties. Eventually, the police authorities arrived and assessed the situation.

As in other similar cases, due to the Baba’s political influence, the local police administration has decided to side with the Baba and has falsely charged the Singhs for attempted murder.

While speaking to Panthic Weekly News Staff, High Court Advocate, Bikramjit Singh Batth, stated that news stories published of the altercation corroborated with the actual events that occurred on September the 7th at Jhabal and blamed officials for conjuring up the charges against the Singhs while giving a clean slate to the Baba.

District SSP Pavan Kumar has indicated that the Singhs were being charged for attempted murder under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code. They include Balbir Singh Dhukla, Amrik Singh, Manjit Singh Jhabal, Gurmit Singh, Gurdial Singh, Such Singh, Panjwara, Major Singh, Tarsem Singh, and Tarlochan Singh. The exact whereabouts and condition of the injured Sarabjit Singh is unknown, although he was admitted to a local private hospital for the treatment of the gunshot wound.

Hospital Reports Changed

Panthic Weekly has learnt that in order to clear the Baba from legal complications, the authorities managed to modify the medical reports for the hospitalized Sarabjit Singh to state that his wounds were not from a firearm discharged during that altercation.

Two Sewadars charged were not present during Altercation

Interestingly, two of the Singhs that are being charged - Bhai Balbir Singh Dhoolka and Bhai Amrik Singh were not even present at the confrontation. According to reliable sources, they are being implicated because there is a lot of pressure being put on the local police authorities by various deras, babas and politicians who want to reign in the activities of the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee.

Surprisingly, neither the Baba nor any of his followers have been charged with any type of crime. Even though, news reports and eyewitness accounts confirm that it was the Baba’s men who had attacked and fired at the Committee Members.

The FIR (First Information Report) filed by Baba Sulakhan Sinh’s brother-in-law against the Committee Members, openly admits that the Baba was running a dera/Gurdwara at the place of his father’s samadh (tomb), and that that they were armed when the confrontation took place near Jhabal.

This is not the first controversy for this Baba either. Some time ago, he has accused of pilfering donations from Singapore and Malaysia. Huge sums of money were also raised by the Baba for a Kar-sewa project that is being organized in the southern town of Nanded.

In a joint statement, the Panthic organizations Khalsa Alliance and Respect for Guru Granth Sahib Campaign (North America), criticized the Punjab police for conjuring up false charges against the Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee members. They have demanded that the injured Singh, Bhai Sarbjit Singh, be provided proper medical attention and be safely released to his family. The organizations have requested Punjab based Panthic organizations and Human Rights groups to initiate an inquiry into the Baba’s misdoings, the September 7th clash, and the false charges against the Committee Members.

Baba Close to Vedanti and Akali Politicians

Panthic Weekly has also learned that the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib and members of the ruling Badal Akali Dal have had close relations with Baba Sulakhan Sinh in the past, and for the last several years have also attended the “barsi” of Kundan Singh, his father at the Samadh-turned-Gurdwara. This year Sulakhan Sinh advertised that Jathedar Vedanti would be attending the Barsi, but Vedanti opted to back out at the last minute, realizing the gravity of the situation. His studied silence on this entire matter perhaps hints at which side the Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib truly stands.