Curfew imposed in Haryana town after clash

Sirsa (Haryana), Nov 24 (IANS) The district administration imposed curfew in Haryana’s Sirsa town Saturday following violent clashes between followers of the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect and the Sikh community.

District officials said the curfew was imposed Saturday evening to prevent the situation from escalating.

The clash between the Dera Sacha Sauda sect followers and members of the Sikh community left at least six people injured, police said.

“The situation is still tense but under control,” a police official said here.

The headquarters of the sect is located on the outskirts of Sirsa town, 300 km from Chandigarh. The sect has millions of followers in Haryana, Punjab and other states.

Sources said that tension had been brewing between two sides the past few days following some remarks made recently against the sect’s head, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

The sect followers and Sikh community have had violent clashes in neighbouring Punjab in the last four years.

IANS 2012-11-24 20:08:07