Dehra Dun, May 16
The youth wing of the Uttarakhand Sikh Federation (USF) today staged a demonstration and burnt Dera Sacha Sauda chief in effigy in protest against the alleged disrespect shown to Guru Gobind Singh.

Around 50 activists of the wing, led by its state president Sunny Bindra, gathered at Clock Tower and raised slogans against the dera chief for his alleged blasphemous act.

A heavy police force was deployed in the area to ward off any untoward incident.

Meanwhile, state USF president Gurdeep Singh Tony said their protest would continue. The next course of action would be in accordance with the decision taken by the Sikh clergy at a meeting at Damdama Sahib tomorrow, he added.

BHOPAL: Effigies of the Dera Sacha Sauda head were today burnt at some places in Madhya Pradesh and a demand made for action against him for allegedly imitating Guru Gobind Singh.

Members of the Guru Singh Sabha organised a rally in Indore and shouted slogans against dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for allegedly being shown in an advertisement wearing the attire of the Guru and distributing ‘amrit’ (nectar) among his followers.

The protestors burnt the dera head’s effigy and submitted a memorandum addressed to the President to local officials, seeking strict action against him.

In a protest in Bhopal, Gurudwara Prabandhak Samiti members burnt an effigy of the dera head and announced plans for further protests against his actions.

“The Akal Takht, which is slated to meet on the issue tomorrow, has asked us to maintain peace. We will wait for the decision before taking any action,” samiti president Gyani Dili Singh told PTI.

LUCKNOW: The protests over Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh donning the dress of Guru Gobind Singh today spilled over to several parts of Uttar Pradesh.

The DGP office said here that hundreds of Sikhs staged dharnas and demonstrations at Kanpur, Meerut, Saharanpur and Pilibhit to protest the “insult.’’

‘’There have been reports of protests from various places, but there were no reports of any violence,’’ assistant to Director General of Police, IG Himmat Singh told UNI here.

He said a general alert has been issued at the district level and officials have been asked to ensure peace.

There were reports of traffic being disrupted in Meerut and Kanpur but order was restored after police intervention.

At some places, protestors burnt Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s effigy claiming he had insulted the Sikhs by donning the attire of the 10th Sikh Guru.