VANCOUYER, Canada: The attempt to burn Gurdwara Ross Street was foiled when the alleged culprit, Mr. Amarjit Singh Mushian, 40, was challenged by Bhai Gurdev Singh. The culprit had, reportedly, entered the main hall after breaking the glass pane of the door behind the Palki. He sprinkled gasoline around the Palki and put it on fire.
Bhai Gurdev Singh came out on hearing the noise and saw Amarjit Singh trying to escape. When he tried to stop him, Amarjit Singh attacked him with an axe. It is also reported that another person escaped from the esteem side when Gurdev Singh was engaged with Amarjit Singh.
Fire was brought under control by the fire brigade with the help of nearly 200 Sikhs who had reached the scene.
Amarjit Singh used to roam around the Gurdwara premises for the last six-seven months and was posing as insane; Police said that Amarjit Singh will be subjected to medical examination in order to determine his mental condition.
The news of the attempt to burn the Gurdwara shocked Sikhs all over Canada, Representative Sikh bodies demanded a thorough investigation into the matter so that the conspiracy is fully exposed and “culprits punished.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 8, 1986
