Clash over control of gurdwara in California

San Francisco, January 13

Several people were injured when a major fight broke out between two groups of Sikhs at a gurdwara in California, apparently over leadership issue, according to media reports. The incident took place at a famous gurdwara in Northern California’s Turlock city and it came to light after a video of the chaos was made public.

Soon after the fight began, the local police was called in to quell the brawl. The video shows Sikhs shoving and throwing punches at each other, CBS news reported yesterday.

The report quoted some of the witnesses who said that some Sikhs were wielding kirpans (ceremonial swords) inside the gurdwara.

Harinder Toor, a member of the gurdwara who was inside when the melee started, said a dispute over shrine leadership turned violent as different factions had been fighting for power for years and the tension boiled over Sunday, according to the report.

Several people have sustained minor injuries and were taken to nearby hospitals. The police said no arrests were made as further investigations were underway. — PTI