Punjab riots – Jalandhar riots after Sikh preacher Sant Ram Nand of Dera Sachkhand Ballan is killed in Austria
Riots have broken out across the Punjab especially the city of Jallandhar after a preacher from an Indian sect was killed by a rival Sikh group in Austria.
Within hours of the incident in Vienna, thousands of Sikhs took to the streets, clashing with police and setting fire to buildings, vehicles and a train (Jammu Tawi express).
The disturbances were triggered by death of preacher Sant Rama Nand during a religious ceremony in Vienna on Sunday. He was attacked by six men armed with knives and a pistol and succumbed to his wounds in hospital early on Monday. Another preacher, Sant Nirajnan Dass, who was among 15 other people injured, is said to be stable.
Both the preachers were from a breakaway Sikh sect by name Dera Sachkhand Ballan which has a large following in parts of Punjab and had travelled to Vienna to conduct a special service.
By evening the situation has been brought under control by Police and paramilitary forces.
Tags: punjab, riots
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