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Punjab riots after Vienna killing Punjab riots after Vienna killing
(about 3 hours later)
Riots have broken out in almost all towns and cities in the Indian state of Punjab after a Sikh guru was killed by a rival group in a temple in Austria. Riots have broken out across the Indian state of Punjab after a Sikh guru was killed by a rival group in Austria.
Thousands of angry protesters have taken to streets, damaging public property and setting trains on fire. Within hours of the incident in Vienna, thousands of Sikhs took to the streets, clashing with police and setting fire to buildings, vehicles and a train.
At least four people were injured when police opened fire at protesters who attacked a police station in Jalandhar. At least one man was killed when the security forces opened fire on crowds near the city of Jalandhar, police say.
The army has marched through the streets of Jalandhar city and a curfew is in place in four major towns. The army has marched through the city. A curfew is in force there and other parts of Punjab.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appealed for calm. However thousands of protesters carrying swords, steel rods and sticks defied the curfew on Monday.
Guru Sant Ramanand was attacked on Sunday in Vienna - during clashes at a religious ceremony - by six men armed with knives and a pistol.
Whatever the provocation, it is important to maintain peace and harmony among different sections of the people Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh In pictures: Punjab riotsWhatever the provocation, it is important to maintain peace and harmony among different sections of the people Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh In pictures: Punjab riots
He succumbed to his wounds in hospital early Monday. Major highways were blocked by bonfires of tyres and sticks. Trains have been attacked in several places.
Another preacher Sant Nirajnan Dass, who was among 15 other people injured, is said to be stable. Police said they had fired at rioting mobs in Jalandhar, after coming under attack. At least four people were wounded.
Both the preachers were from a low-caste Sikh sect which has a large following in parts of Punjab and had travelled to Vienna to conduct a special service. A man was shot dead as police dispersed a crowd in the nearby town of Lambran. Police say they have arrested six people for arson.
The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, in Delhi, says several high caste Sikh groups had apparently opposed his presence and threatened violence. In the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, police fired tear gas after protesters burnt dozens of buses.
Bonfire
Thousands of protesters carrying swords, steel rods and sticks are out on the streets in almost all major towns and cities, reports the BBC's Asit Jolly in Chandigarh, capital of Punjab state.
At least four trains have been attacked
All major highways are blocked by bonfires of tyres and sticks, and all main railways stations in the state are deserted, our correspondent says.
Police say a large showroom of Hyundai motors has been completely destroyed and trains have been attacked in at least four places.
Police said they fired at rioting mobs in two places in Jalandhar after coming under attack.
At least four people were wounded, they said.
The army and police have marched through the streets of Jalandhar and police say they have arrested six people for arson.
A curfew has been imposed in the cities of Jalandhar, Phagwara, Hoshiarpur and Ludhiana.
The Delhi-Lahore bus has been stopped near the town of Ludhiana as a precautionary measure.The Delhi-Lahore bus has been stopped near the town of Ludhiana as a precautionary measure.
Violent demonstrations have also been reported in the towns of Amritsar, Patiala, Ferozepur, Bathinda and Nawanshahr. Violent demonstrations have also been reported in the towns of Patiala, Ferozepur, Bathinda and Nawanshahr.
'Distressed' Appeal for calm
Chief Minister of Punjab Prakash Singh Badal has called an all-party meeting on Tuesday and PM Manmohan Singh has appealed for calm. Chief Minister of Punjab Prakash Singh Badal has called an all-party meeting on Tuesday and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has appealed for calm.
"I am deeply distressed by the outbreak of violence in Punjab following certain incidents in Vienna, Austria." Mr Singh said in a statement. Most of the disturbances occurred in or near Jalandhar
"I am deeply distressed by the outbreak of violence in Punjab following certain incidents in Vienna, Austria," Mr Singh said in a statement
"Whatever the provocation, it is important to maintain peace and harmony among different sections of the people.""Whatever the provocation, it is important to maintain peace and harmony among different sections of the people."
Mr Singh, a Sikh, said that Sikhism preached tolerance and harmony. The disturbances were triggered by death of Guru Sant Ramanand during a religious ceremony in Vienna on Sunday.
Guru Sant Ramanand and Sant Niranjan Dass were attacked on Sunday in Vienna. He was attacked by six men armed with knives and a pistol and succumbed to his wounds in hospital early on Monday.
Eyewitnesses said fundamentalist Sikhs from a higher caste attacked the preachers, who, they believed, were disrespectful of the Sikh holy book. Another preacher, Sant Nirajnan Dass, who was among 15 other people injured, is said to be stable.
Police spokesman Michael Takacs said the scene was "like a battlefield". Six people have been detained, and more arrests were possible. Both the preachers were from a low-caste Sikh sect which has a large following in parts of Punjab and had travelled to Vienna to conduct a special service.
Several hundred worshippers were at the temple at the time of the attack. The BBC's Sanjoy Majumder, in Delhi, says several high-caste Sikh groups had apparently opposed his presence and threatened violence.
The temple is situated in Vienna-Rudolfsheim, in the 15th district of the capital.
It is estimated that fewer than 3,000 Sikhs live in Austria.
The Rudolfsheim temple is run by devotees of Shri Guru Ravidas, who founded the Dera Sach Khand sect.