‘Sewa’ volunteers told to carry ID card

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 17

A day after two robbers — who targeted devotees — were arrested in Amritsar, the SGPC has stepped up security at the Golden Temple complex, especially in and around Guru Ram Dass Langar Hall.

The SGPC has issued directions that any devotee who volunteers for ‘sewa’ in the langar hall should possess a valid identity card. The SGPC has also increased the movement of its task force in the shrine complex.

The CIA staff had arrested two miscreants for robbing devotees who had come to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple from Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in Delhi. The accused were identified as Gurmeet Singh alias Pappu of Delhi, who now stays in Shaheed Udham Singh Nagar here, and Lakhwinder Singh, alias Lucky, of the same locality. Golden Temple manager Sulakhan Singh claimed that the accused were nabbed by the SGPC task force and handed over to the police.

Barring the few who have been regularly serving at the langar hall or its kitchen, no one will be allowed unless he or she produces a valid ID card. The devotee who intends to perform ‘sewa’ will have to mention his or her name in the identification register. “They will have to deposit their ID card which will be returned when they leave. A team of 10 staffers in plain clothes will keep a vigil on the premises,” he said.