UK Police Seek Assistance: Terrifying moments - Sikh Protesters Storm Community Centre, Trash It

Soul_jyot · #1 (**permalink**) 13-Oct-2011, 05:07 AM

Terrifying moments - U.K. Sikh protesters stormed their own community centre and trashed it
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/united-kingdom/37220-uk-police-seek-assistance-terrifying-moments.html

The terrifying moment hundreds of Sikh protesters smashed their way into a community centre in protest at it selling meat and alcohol

- Images show rioters smashing through police cordon
- Missiles thrown at officers in five-hour stand-off

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 7:01 PM on 12th October 2011

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...#ixzz1aboOnq3w **

Scarlet Pimpernel · #2 (**permalink**) 13-Oct-2011, 06:04 AM

Quote:

The terrifying moment hundreds of Sikh protesters smashed their way into a community centre in protest at it selling meat and alcohol

They should make the people behind 'Satkaar' pay for the damage,how can they call themselves respect,they should change name to Kutmaar. My family first came to the town in 1967 from Punjab and my grandfather was one of the earliest members of the Sangat.(Also no one was selling anything ,most people bring their own stuff and just rent the hall,and also if they had saw it as their own hall ,they would not have trashed it.(The irony is there are one or two Off Licence's situated adjacent to the hall and they sell alcohol seven days a week ,while the hall gets a just few bookings in the summer )

Ambarsaria · #3 (**permalink**) 13-Oct-2011, 06:59 AM

Sinner veer (or Dear Scarlet mundahug), is it a Langar Hall linked to a permanent Gurdwara? I see the point if that is the case but still should be within law and order.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37220

Sat Sri Akal.

Scarlet Pimpernel · #4 (**permalink**) 13-Oct-2011, 12:44 PM

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Quote:

Sinner veer or Scarlet, is it a Langar Hall linked to a permanent Gurdwara? I see the point if that is the case but still should be within law and order

Veer Ji ,No the Gurdwara does have it's own separate Langar Hall located within itself and on it's ground floor , This Hall is like a community centre that is located over the road .(the entrance of the Hall is approx 100 metres away of from the Gurdwara entrance .)
The Gurdwara bought the land to make a Hall and the local authority funded the building of it.The land purchase came from the Golak but was accounted for as a loan on the books of the Gurdwara I think it might have been paid off by now,the accounts are freely available from the Charities Commision.
It is linked in that the same committee members are responsible,I have no direct conflict of interest, but I should declare that my Grandfathers nephew who is one of the towns most successful businessmen and a self made millionaire, is the Gurdwara treasurer.

ps I like Scarlet-Pimper-Neer or SPN for short ,Looks like they are still at it too another Gurdwara getting bullied now!

PANTHIC.ORG | Published on September 20, 2011
MANMAT PLANNED FOR SINGH SABHA SLOUGH GURDWARA COMMUNITY CENTER

SLOUGH, UK - Sri Guru Singh Sabha Gurdwara, Slough, UK is the largest Gurudwara in Slough and consequently has the largest regular Sangat attending. However it is very sad to see that unlike the Gurdwara’s namesake, the Singh Sabha reform movement led by heroic members of the Sangat who cleansed India’s Gurdwarae of various ills and diseases, the serving committee seems to be the fighting a very different battle, whilst the general Sangat seem completely oblivious.
We have reason to believe that a ‘Sports and Cultural Centre’ currently being built by the committee will host parties and other such events where meat will be served, alcohol will be served, cigarettes will be smoked and lustful dancing will be promoted. No doubt there may also be events allowed which promote idol-worship; similar to the events that previously took place at the other Gurdwara in Slough; Ramgharia Gurdwara. The crucial question is this: Why build another expensive hall via the Sangat’s money when another one exists, also built with Sangat’s money, currently exists and moreover has facilities which are barely being used at the moment?

Needless to say the project which is scheduled to cost £3,000,000 is being funded via the Guru’s Golak. Apparently £1,500,000 has already been paid by the committee with the remaining £1,500,000 to be paid over the next 10-15 years; effectively leaving the Gurdwara in serious and expensive long-term debt. Fund-raising has already begun with Sangat being constantly implored to donate more and more money.
Recent discussions that have taken place amongst the committee are very worrying. These include arguments about whether Panj Piyarae should have laid the foundation stone – those who didn’t want this felt this may prohibit Manmat parties and events from taking place. Others didn’t seem perturbed by this and were of the view that despite the Panj Piayare having been involved this wouldn’t stop them from deciding to hold such events. To keep Sangat from attacking such plans some committee members are spreading false rumours that perhaps in future a new Gurdwara will be built upon the site. Whereas at one meeting it was passed that all parties would have to conform with Sikh Rehat Maryada i.e. no alcohol, meat etc. can be served, at another meeting that took place thereafter it was decided that the Sangat would be allowed to decide whether meat and alcohol should be prohibited or not. Allegedly, some committee members are stating that a separate committee should be formed to run the new centre which would effectively allow the Gurdwara committee to distance themselves from the things that take place there and in turn any implications which arise.The Gurdwara Sahib, which is supposed to inspire, enlighten and lead the Sangat may soon be at the mercy of the Sangat as to what should be promoted, taught and followed. Furthermore the Gurdwara is proactively leading the Sangat down a dangerous path where the current and future generations will be implicitly taught that all these activities are compatible with Gurmat.

Such committees spend Guru Sahib’s money with no care – as it does not come from their own pockets and neither do they have any love-inspired fear or respect for Guru Sahib. They are more interested in having a ‘good time’ than carrying-out any useful activities that would develop, empower and lead our youth towards Guru Sahib. They care not for the fact that they are leading us, our children and all future generations towards a spiritual and physical death. The Gurdwara which represents ‘the gateway to the Guru’ will soon perhaps need to be renamed as it is in danger of becoming ‘the exit door from the Guru’.
The UK Satkaar Group has done some excellent work achieving positive results regarding other UK-based Gurdwarae that have committed similar actions, and are aware of the centre being built by the current committee in Slough. They are waiting to see what steps the Slough Sangat take once the centre opens, and hope it will promote activities and initiatives which benefit the local Sikh community. Time will tell but at the moment the future does not look too hopeful.
The committee will be holding the Annual General Meeting this weekend on Sunday 25th September and it is hoped that the local Sangat attends and stands united against what may soon take place. The committee should be questioned and probed as to what will take place once the centre opens, and should also be made to acknowledge their responsibilities in line with Gurmat. The local Sangat has a chance to rise-up like their ancestors, the heroic Gursikhs of yester-year, and finally start to once again take control of the Gurdwarae which are in danger of becoming diseased. If nothing is done, and no voices speak, we as the Sangat will ultimately be accountable.

For ultimately it is we the Sangat who vote for such people, we the Sangat who agree with such decisions and it also we the Sangat who silently stand aside whilst these things take place.
(By a Gupt Sangat Member)

spnadmin · #5 (**permalink**) 14-Oct-2011, 04:21 AM

This is not new Scarlet P ji. The bullying has been organized on the Internet for months by various sites, and is actively pursued in both Canada and UK. I have been astonished for months that no legal interventions have occurred. Not only that....but celebrations and back patting follow up successful sortis. Jubilation over what boils down to felonious activity. The use of the Internet to manage and organize illegal activity has to be against the law in the UK and Canada. We have several threads in which this problem has been covered. In my mind the police are missing a link if they are not already signed onto Sikh forums and web sites and blogs trying to connect the dots.
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37220
Reference:: Sikh Philosophy Network http://www.sikhphilosophy.net/showthread.php?t=37220

Recently a Ramgharia sangat was targeted. This goes on and on.

spnadmin · #6 (**permalink**) 14-Oct-2011, 04:27 AM

I have posted the entire article which is connected to the link in the Thread Starter. I have also posted a larger image from the security tapes that police asked be published in the newspaper, Daily Express. This may get some of the UK membership taking a second look.

Quote:

Pouring through the gates, these men are part of a mob of religious zealots who went on the rampage in protest at the sale of meat and alcohol in a Sikh community centre.
The CCTV image has been released by police in an attempt to bring to justice the vandals who stormed the building and wrecked the kitchens.
The trouble erupted after managers at the centre agreed to serve alcohol and meat at a private party that night, but practising Sikhs heard about the plan and organised a demonstration.

Caught on CCTV: Rioters burst through the gates of the Sikh Cultural centre in Swancote Road, Dudley, as the peaceful protest turns violent. They managed to smash through a police cordon trying to protect the centre

Crazed: A protestor raises a chair over his head as he prepares to smash up the contents of the centre. Police are appealing for information to identify the perpetrators
THE SIKH RELIGION
The word 'Sikh' means 'disciple' in the Punjabi language.
A gurdwara, which translates as 'Gateway to the Guru', is a place of worship.

The Sikh code, known as Rehat Maryada, forbids the use of alcohol and intoxicants or the consumption of meat killed in a ritualistic way.

Some believe eating any meat is forbidden and that only vegetarian food is allowed to be served in a gurdwara.

Sikhs believe in the equality of humankind and one supreme God (Ik Onkar).

The founder of the Sikh religion was Guru Nanak, who was born in 1469.
The protest, in Dudley, West Midlands, is believed to have been attended by members of the UK Sangat organisation. The hardline movement campaigns to prevent the consumption of meat and alcohol, and the breaking of other Sikh rules, on holy land.
After a peaceful start, the protest turned violent and police were unable to hold back the crowd.
In the newly released CCTV images, protesters can be seen forcing their way through a cordon of police officers and storming through the centre gates.
One image shows an angry rioter with a chair raised above his head, as other protesters rampage through the centre causing devastation.
Police from all over the West Midlands were drafted in to calm the situation and a police helicopter monitored the violent scenes on May 29 this year, while roads around the building were closed for five hours to allow emergency services access to the site.
Specialist officers were dispatched to the scene to help negotiations between the militant Sikhs and under-siege staff. But the mob’s numbers quickly spiralled.
One policeman was left with head injuries and another suffered dental injuries after the protesters began pelting officers with bricks, bottles and missiles.
After forcing their way into the centre, they barricaded themselves inside and trashed it, causing ‘significant damage’.
A tense five-hour stand-off followed which ended only after managers at the Sikh Cultural Centre gave in to the protesters’ demands and cancelled the sale of meat and alcohol.

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At the time, protest organisers told reporters: ‘All Sikhs should be aware of the basic Sikh tenets that meat and alcohol are not permissible in the Sikh faith.
‘The centre owners have insulted the Sikh faith and violated Sikh Maryada [code of conduct] by allowing a party to take place at the Sikh Cultural Centre.’

Carnage: Members of the Sikh community survey the damage in the kitchen. The rioters were furious that the centre had been selling meat and alcohol

Calmer times: The Sikh Cultural centre in Dudley. The centre's owners have been accused by protest organisers of insulting the Sikh faith

Religious movement: Militant Sikhs stage the mass protest outside the temple on May 28 as police watch on
Inspector Richard Jones, from Dudley Police, said: ‘What started as a peaceful protest soon turned to violence when a minority of people started throwing missiles at officers and then forced their way inside the centre.
Significant damage was caused to the premises and our investigation into what happened on the day continues.
‘Detectives have trawled through CCTV from the site and the vicinity as part of the inquiry and we now ask for help in identifying some of those people we would now like to speak to. We urge anyone with information to assist with identification to come forward and help us at their earliest convenience.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2048164/The-terrifying-moment-hundreds-Sikh-protesters-smashed-way-community-centre-protest-selling-meat-alcohol.html#ixzz1ahVWWR5e

Scarlet Pimpernel · #7 (**permalink**) 14-Oct-2011, 05:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Spnadmin Ji

This is not new Scarlet P ji. The bullying has been organized on the Internet for months by various sites, and is actively pursued in both Canada and UK

I'm shocked because I was not aware of internet forums before end of May this year ,I ran a small business which meant working 11 hour days then falling asleep mostly as it was heavy work,I chanced across an article on a website after following it I found a press release in the Armed Nawjwaan Forum,I was discredited for being related to a committee member. Thankyou for the help to publicise the issue.The Scarlet Pimp-erneer