Jupinderjit Singh, Tribune News Service
Bathinda, August 27. The ongoing controversy over the ownership of 12 acres of land in Maari Seekhan village near Rampura town escalated again when members of the Bhullar community, wanted to celebrate the tenth day of the Full Moon at the village gurdwara. However, the police citing prohibitory order, prevented them from marching to the gurdwara situated on the land under controversy.
Agitated members of the Bhullar community, who claim they have been worshipping at the gurdwara since generations and hosting festivals at the land in question, sat on the railway crossing on the Bathinda-Chandigarh highway alleging that the police was allowing the members of the opposing Sidhu community and the SGPC members to visit the religious place.
Road and rail traffic were affected for nearly two hours near Rampura town due to the dharna. Bathinda Deputy Commissioner Kamal Kishore Yadav and SSP Sukhchain Singh Gill had to pacify the agitators. They have called a meeting of the warring parties on August 28 to find a peaceful solution.
Besides the Bhullars, who have a sizeable population in the region, members of the Sidhu community, who claim to have a majority in nearby villages and the SGPC, have staked claim to the ownership of the gurdwara and the land. Representatives of the Bhullars claimed the police allowed only five members of their community to offer Ardas at the gurdwara yesterday.
However, these five members saw over 20 members of the other community at the religious place, who allegedly raised slogans also.
This, sources said, angered the community which first laid siege to the Mehraj-Rampura road and later, squatted on the railway crossing.
