CHANDIGARG, India, Nov. 30, Reuter: Hundreds of paramilitary police today entered the Golden Temple Complex housing the Sikhs holiest shrine to control Sikh youths attending temple elections, police sources said. About 300 police ringed a hall in the complex at Amritsar in Punjab state before the start of elections to a powerful committee which manages Sikh shrines in the State, the sources told Reuters.
About 12,000 youths shouted slogans supporting an independent Sikh nation and praising militant leader Parkash Singh Badal before the start of voting for 14 posts in the Committee.
Badal and Punjab’s moderate Chie Minister, Surjit Singh Barnala, have put up rival candidates for the Committees top post of President in an election which is seen as a crucial test of strength for the two politicians.
The police action was the second in the Complex since last May when police entered the area to capture Sikh freedom fighters
Article extracted from this publication >> December 5, 1986
