Nihangs storm 2 Panipat temples, take holy book

Panipat: A Nihang group drew swords and turned violent at two temples in Panipat on Sunday when outraged devotees confronted it for taking away Guru Granth Sahib, Sikhism's holy scripture, by force.
The incident occurred at the Lakshmi Narayan Mandir in Hari Bagh Colony and another temple near Sethi Chowk. Witnesses said hundreds of Nihangs had stormed the premises, drawn swords when confronted, and pushed aside worshippers who had tried to intervene. Police moved to the scene as tensions escalated. Deputy superintendent of police Satish Vatsa directed both sides to present their accounts at the regional police station to prevent further unrest.
Neeraj, the long-serving priest at Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, said he had been associated with the temple for 60 years and was shocked by the intrusion. He explained that the temple's first floor housed a Darbar Sahib (a Sikh prayer hall) and the Nihang intruders claimed initially they were there to inspect a hall they had booked, but instead proceeded directly to the first floor, "picked up Guru Granth Sahib, placed it above their heads, and tried to leave". The priest said: "When we tried to block their way, they drew their swords, which frightened us and we couldn't stop them."
Police station in-charge Devender said town authorities had brokered a temporary truce by bringing both parties together at the station. To avert future religious tensions, they had formed a five-member committee of representatives from both sides and tasked it with reaching a peaceful resolution, which it must submit to the police by next Sunday.
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