Agra, Sep 3 (Inditop.com) A possible confrontation between Sikh leaders and followers of Dera Sacha Sauda sect was defused after authorities in this Utar Pradesh district withdrew permission to the sect to hold a congregation following protests from Sikh leaders.
District authorities late Wednesday night withdrew permission to the Dera Sacha Sauda from holding a congregation in Rohta village in Agra district after Sikh leaders blocked vehicular traffic on the Delhi-Agra highway.
A delegation of Sikhs met senior police officials Wednesday to demand withdrawal of permission to the sect. The group threatened violent disruption if the congregation was held.
The district administration late Wednesday refused to provide security to the organisers of the congregation in Rohta village.
Acting District Magistrate Shyam Krishan told mediapersons that he would not allow the law and order situation to get out of hand and had therefore decided to withdraw permission to the Dera Sacha Sauda whose representative Thursday confirmed that the “holding of the satsang had been cancelled”.
The sect is led by controversial chief Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim, who is accused of the rape and murder of a ‘sadhvi’ (female follower). The sect chief has been at loggerheads with the Sikh community and clergy after he attired himself like 10th Sikh Guru Gobind Singh in 2007.
The sect, which has thousands of followers in Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan, is headquartered at Sirsa town in Haryana.
