CHANDIGARH, India : Police rounded up some 200 alleged backers of Sikh separatists Saturday in troubled Punjab State and tightened security on the eve of a conclave by moderate Sikhs to rally support against the freedom fighters.
‘Among those taken into custody was Bimla Khalsa, wife of Beant Singh, Sikh security officer killed after he and an accomplice assassinated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on Oct. 31, 1984, police said. The other assassin and two codefendants were sentenced to death last month,
In the holy town of Anandpur security officials sealed off the Gurudwara, a Sikh temple where meeting was to be held Sunday. All visitors to the shrine were screened and paramilitary troops ‘were deployed around the temple for the convention.
The conclave was originally to be held at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, 105 miles west of Anandpur Sahib. The meeting was moved last week because the moderates led by the ruling Akali Dal party wanted to avoid bloodshed with the Sikh freedom fighters who now occupy their religion’s ‘most sacred shrine.
Since the freedom fighters demanding an independence for Sikh dominated Punjab gained control of the Golden Temple on Jan. 26, violence in the State has increased, with at least 15 people killed in random shootings in the past three weeks.
The old Akal Takht was heavily damaged in an army assault ordered by Gandhi in June, 1984,
The Akal Takht was rebuilt by New Delhi in a project opposed by militant and moderate Sikhs. The militants won the right to raze it after reoccupying the temple and now plan to build their own mode,
The foundation laying ceremony has been set for Sunday to coincide with the moderate Sikh convention.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 21, 1986
