Sikh groups march for Dera chief's arrest

Ignoring an appeal by SGPC to defer their march, several Sikh organisations took out a procession on Sunday, demanding arrest of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, charged with hurting religious
sentiments of the community.

The Sikhs under the aegis of Khalsa Action Committee began the march from the historic Gurdwara Zafar Nama, Dina Sahib to Damdami Sahib in Bathinda's Talwandi Sabo as tight security arrangements were made along its route.

The procession, which included both hardliners and moderates of the community, would pass through Salabatpura,
which houses the largest Dera of Sacha Sauda in Punjab.

Earlier, the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbhandhak Committee chief Avtar Singh had appealed to the organisers to defer
their proposed march till Monday. But the Khalsa Action Committee - comprising leaders of various Sikh religious
groups - decided to go ahead with its programme.

Those leading the march, including Jasbir Singh Rode, Daljit Singh Bittu, co-convenor of the Committee and Bhai
Mohkam Singh, spokesman of Damdami Taksal, have appealed to the participants to maintain peace and not to raise any kind of slogans.

The protestors were scheduled to pass through Kangar, Salabatpura, Bhai Roopa, Rampura Phul, Mandi Kalan and Ram Nagar before reaching Talwandi Sabo, a temporal seat of the Sikhs.