Detailed report on attack on Sangat TV crew by Dera Radha Swami men
By Parmjit Singh
Published: July 29, 2012
Jalandhar, Punjab (July 29, 2012): Senior Journalist H. S. Bawa, editor of YesPunjab.Com has release a news report providing extensive inforamtion regardig attack on Sangat TV (UK) crew members by Radha Swami Dera men.The news report reads as follows:
The men of Radha Soami Dera at Beas, which preaches non-violence, attacked the crew of Sangat TV at village Jodhe near Beas in the district of Amritsar. However, both the members of the crew were lucky enough to escape the attack.
Baljeet Singh, reporter of Sangat TV, and Senior Journalists from Rayya addressing the media at Press Club Jalandhar
The crew members – Baljeet Singh, a correspondent and the camera man Monu – had to virtually run to save their lives as both of them were attacked by Dera men on Saturday.
Though the police have been informed of the incident and a formal complaint has been handed over to an officer not less than the rank of a SP, there has been no action as yet.
Talking to ‘Yes Punjab’ Baljeet Singh told that Sangat TV had planned to shoot a documentary depicting the grievances and agony of people living in the neighborhood of the Dera as they had either been made to ‘sell’ their land or houses or they are being coerced to leave their land or house for the expansion of the Dera.
Patiala based Baljeet Singh told that they had gone to cover village Bal Sarai Khurd and were led to village Jodhe by some villagers who wanted to show them how the Dera was digging the land near their fields so as to force them to yield their land to the Dera.
“At about 4.30 pm as we along with the villagers reached there and saw about 200 people doing the job, the Dera men supervising the operations called upon the men to attack us and wasting no time men in groups ran towards us with whatever they had in their hands or whatever they could lay their hands on. We ran towards our car and were lucky to reach and start the same before we could be caught. However, as we ran to save our lives we fell in irrigated fields as a result of which we lost our shoes, a Camera, our mobiles and some other valuables and most importantly and sadly my turban also fell there”, he added.
“As they ran after us, we thought that if caught, we would definitely be killed by the group. But we were lucky enough to reach and start our car. We took the nearest available road which took us to Ghuman.”
At Police Chowki Ghuman an ASI Palwinder Singh told that this was the area under the influence of Dera and as such in a diplomatic way refused to register his complaint or help him.
Baljeet Singth then brought the matter into the notice of SHO Beas and later SSP Amritsar (Rural) Preetpal Singh who sent SP (D) Jagdeep Singh to talk to the journalists already gathered in favour of the Sangat TV crew.
The SP (D) was handed over a written complaint against the Dera men who assured that an FIR would be registered by Sunday evening.
Talking to ‘Yes Punjab’ SSP Preetpal Singh said that the enquiry of the case has been marked to SP (HQ) Manmohan Singh who would be submitting his report by Monday or Tuesday.
“We would definitely take the action, on the basis of the conclusion of inquiry report”, he said.
It may be recalled that Journalists Davinder Singh Bhangu of Punjabi Tribune and Rajinder Rikhi of Dainik Bhaskar were attacked by Dera followers on May 18, 2008. Davinder Singh Bhangu was thrown into 40 feet deep dig while Rikhi was abducted, taken to Dera and badly beaten by dera followers.
The Dera is already facing protests from Sikh Sangat due to the dismantling of a Gurdwara at vvillage Waraich.
A press released issued by Randhir Singh, trustee of the Sangat Trust UK read that the trust strongly condemns the attack. It urged all sections of media in Punjab not to take it as an attack on individual as it was an attack on the freedom of the media.
Expecting active support from the media in Punjab, in this matter, S. Randhir Singh demanded from Police and Civil Administration besides the government of Punjab that strong action be taken against the culprits and safety of field journalists should be ensured.
Note: Readers/visitos of Sikh Siyasat are adived to follow this link to read the news report on it’s source page.
Tagged with: Anti-Sikh Deras, Radha Swami Dera Beas, Sangat TV, YesPunjab
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So sad. Dera seems to a state within state. I heard that there are many shops inside the dera the media shoud try investigate whether they pay any tax or not. I do not see any grounds for exemption. Thanks. Once again I have sympathy with reporters.
I have family who own a lot of land in balsarai and they are being bribed and forced out,in fact he had two bullets fired at him,his surname is sarai,his family have been here for years, dera is a shame to sikhs everywhere
Balsarai,In your village everyone will be Balsarai, so it is not Specific to anyone…
Secondly It is not called Bribe it is Offer and in deals buys try to force his price on the seller….
Thirdly If they can fir bullets then they can just take over the land without offering anything(in your terms bribing)…
Please do not make such comments on critical issues like this….
Mr. Fake SinghB, just visit the village and listen to the plight of people living in vicinity of dera. threatening, cutting power supply, digging 40-50 feet digs just next to your land or houses, making roads to fall into land illegally dig by dera are business proposals for you?
Shame on you, for making the mockery of plight of victims dera.