The Tribune, Chandigarh, India

Friday, October 5, 2001, Chandigarh, India

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Baba Satlani attacked
Hurt grievously, in hospital
Varinder Walia
Tribune News Service

Baba Mangal Singh Satlani

Amritsar, October 4
In a bizarre incident, Baba Mangal Singh Satlani, acting president, Gurmat Gurbani Parchark Sant Samaj, was seriously injured when he was attacked by his former ‘sewak’ at the Golden Temple premises in the wee hours today. This is the first such incident at Darbar Sahib.

Baba Mangal Singh was rushed to a private hospital, where his condition was said to be serious.

According to eyewitnesses, one Gurmukh Singh attacked Baba Mangal Singh with a sharp-edged iron rod which pierced near his heart just as he had taken a dip in the holy tank. The assailant hails from Pattran (Patiala). The Baba grappled with the assailant and one of his personal bodyguards helped remove the rod from the chest. One of the Head Constables present in mufti at the time of the incident chased Gurmukh Singh. After a long chase, the accused was overpowered.

Baba Mangal Singh is a confidant of Giani Puran Singh, a former Jathedar, Akal Takht (now Head Granthi, Golden Temple). He remained in the news when Giani Puran Singh ‘excommunicated’ the then President, SGPC, Bibi Jagir Kaur, and three Sikh High Priests in his capacity as Jathedar. Baba Mangal Singh was his chief spokesman.

Mr Rajesh Jaiswal, SP, said the accused, Gurmukh Singh had been arrested under Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code.

However, senior police officials are tightlipped about the motive behind the attack on Baba Mangal Singh, though a written press note issued by the police claimed that the accused had served at the ‘dera’ of the Baba for two years from 1993 to 95 and taken a loan of Rs 10,000 from him which he had failed to return.

The accused reached the ‘dera’ along with his wife about two months ago and started living there. The press note further claimed that when Baba Mangal Singh demanded Rs 10,000 back, he had a tiff with the latter.

However, the version of the police is full of gaps as it fails to explain as to why Gurmukh Singh left the dera about six years ago. The police has not been able to tell as to why the assailant returned to the historical ‘dera’ after a gap of six years.

Several religious and political leaders visited the private Kakkar Hospital to know the well-being of Baba Mangal Singh. Among those who visited the hospital were Mr Gulzar Singh Ranike, State Agriculture Minister, Mr Puran Singh Josh, veteran SGPC member, and Baba Anup Singh. Mr Paramjit Singh Sarna, president, Sarb Hind Shiromani Akali Dal, Delhi unit, condemned the attack.