New Delhi: As pitched battles between supporters of the Dera Sachca Sauda and the Akali Dal continued on Wednesday in Punjab, the violence also spilled over to the Capital.
There was a clash between anti and pro-Dera groups in West Delhi's Vikaspuri area. The Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) General Secretary Omkar Singh Thapar was hurt in an attack by unidentified people and media equipment was also damaged.
Thapar received severe head injuries and had to be rushed to a nearby hospital. Twenty other Akali workers were also injured in the clash.
Around 200 people, owing allegiance to Dera Sacha Sauda attacked mediapersons in Vikaspuri for allegedly talking to Akali Dal members holding protest demonstrations.
No mediaperson was injured as they managed to flee in time when they saw the violent mob approaching them, though two 'Outdoor Broadcasting' vans of 'Star Plus' and 'Sahara Samay' channels were smashed by them at Vikaspuri Chowk, according to eyewitnesses.
The attack by Dera Sacha Sauda members was mainly targetted at Akalis who had been protesting their since afternoon, but media vans were caught in the 'crossfire' as one of the channels was interviewing Thapar.
Reports of protests were also received from Jangpura area in South Delhi where glass panes of several vehicles and windows of shops were broken by demonstrators, along with West Delhi areas of Janakpuri and Tilak Nagar.
Earlier, at about 1330 hrs about 700 Akali Dal (Badal) members protested at Vikaspuri Chowk, close to the CRPF Camp in Keshopur, against the Bhatinda advertisement.
The Dera had brought out an advertisement showing its chief - Baba Ram Raheem - as Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Sikh guru and distributing amrit (holy water).
This portrayal incensed the Akali followers, who also happen to represent the party in power in Punjab.
Meanwhile, violence erupted at Amritsar after a bandh was called by some Sikh bodies and the supporters of the bandh targeted shops in the city.
In Patiala, an ashram of the Dera was torched on Tuesday night.
Though the violence has toned down in Bhatinda, armed Akalis gathered at Haji Ratan Gurdwara and speeches were made against the Dera. Schools and colleges in the town have been shut down for three days.
Reports of protests have also come in from Jammu and Indore also.
Home Minister Shivraj Patil has ruled out the Centre's intervention in Punjab to stop the violence.
"I have spoken to the Punjab Chief Minister and he has assured me that necessary steps are being taken to curb the violence. We have offered help to the government and we feel that the Centre's intervention will not be to anyone's benefit," he said.
A meeting of the Sikh clergy has been convened on Thursday to find a way out of the conflict.
A general alert has been issued at the district level and officials have been asked to ensure peace.
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