Nihangs reinstall Nishan Sahib on disputed land in Guru ki Wadali village

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 19

The Municipal Corporation has failed to protect its land even after a dispute between two parties over its possession in Guru ki Wadali village.

Nihangs and some other organisations reinstalled the Nishan Sahib on the land in Guru Ki Wadali village from where it was removed on August 15 by local farmers. There was a dispute over the land, the ownership of which was claimed by MC. But a group wishing to construct a gurudwara had installed Nishan Sahib which was later taken away by farmers who had been cultivating the land. The farmers were booked for disrespect of Nishan Sahib by police. Municipal Commissioner Harpreet Singh had denied giving the land to anyone and decided to give an application to the Police Commissioner in this regard. But before the MC could take any action, the Nihangs and other organisations reinstalled the Nishan Sahib in the presence of police on Saturday evening.

The police and administration officials claimed that the issue could turn into a caste clash in the village and to avert any such social divide they allowed them to install Nishan Sahib. The district administration had called a meeting of all stakeholders on Saturday in which estate officials were also present.

“We didn’t give our consent to install Nishan Sahib. There was no decision in the meeting about the reinstallation of Nishan Sahib. But later in the evening, the Nishan Sahib was reinstalled,” said an MC official.

The MC owns around 13 acres of land in Guru Ki Wadali village which was being cultivated by local farmers. The estate wing of MC took possession of two chunks of land at various locations in the village. Boards claiming ownership of land by MC were installed. Last month, some locals installed the Nishan Sahib and claimed possession on a chunk of six kanal of land. But farmers of the same village removed the Nishan Sahib with tractor and claimed that they had been cultivating the land for decades.