Bid to attack Dera of Ashutosh Maharaj in Batala

A group of Sikh youths make an abortive attempt to attack the Dera of spiritual guru Ashutosh Maharaj in Batala during the day-long Punjab bandh.

A group of Sikh youths on Tuesday made an abortive attempt to attack the Dera of spiritual guru Ashutosh Maharaj in Batala during the day-long bandh called to protest Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's alleged blasphemous act.

Some 40 to 50 Sikh youths went to the Dera of Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan and tried to enter the premises, raising slogans, eyewitnesses and police said.

But alert police and CRPF personnel foiled the bid and dispersed the crowd.

They also rounded up some youths who were released after investigations, Senior Superintendent of Police R N Dhoke said.

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