14 Arrested in Nanded Gurudwara Attack
Police have arrested 14 people in connection with an attack on policemen by a mob of sword-wielding Sikhs in Nanded after they were denied permission for Hola Mohalla.
Nanded, Maharashtra is an important Sikh pilgrimage centre as it is home to a sacred shrine, Sri Hazur Sahib Gurudwara. The Gurudwara committee had asked the local police permission to conduct a public procession for a Sikh festival called ‘Hola Mohalla’. But the police told the Gurudwara committee that they can not give permission because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Hola Mohalla, a huge event for Sikhs around the world, is a three-day-long festival that usually starts a day after Holi. It can sometimes coincide with Holi. Unlike Holi, when people sprinkle the coloured powder on each other, Hola Mohalla is an occasion for Sikhs to demonstrate their martial skills. On 29th March at around 4:00pm when the Nishan Sahib flag was brought to the gate of the Gurudwara by a group of people.
Several people within the group started arguing with the police and demanded them to allow the procession. But the police continued to refuse. The more than 300 youth stormed out of the gate, broke the barricades, and began attacking the policemen. Many of the rioters were even wielding swords. The huge mob violently attacked the police and damaged many vehicles as well. The video of the incident has gone viral on social media. Four constables were injured. The condition of one of the injured policemen was serious. The police have filed an FIR in which 64 people have been named. 14 people have been arrested and people are still looking for the rest.
