Now, bid to torch Oz gurdwara

Now, bid to torch Oz gurdwara
Dinesh Kumar writes from Melbourne

In the third major attack on Indians so far this year, some unidentified persons tried to set afire a gurdwara building under construction in the Nanaksar Taath gurdwara complex last midnight located in the southeastern suburb of Cranbourne, about an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s city centre.

Smashed bottles that had been filled with inflammable fluids, probably petrol, were found at the site of the incident. Accepting that this had been a “deliberate act”, police officials are speculating about the possible use of Molotov cocktails by the miscreants. Fortunately, no one was hurt and there was no structural damage to the building. Damage has been mostly confined to thermocol fillings in the walls and some construction material. As a result, the damage is more visible than structural in nature and is worth a few thousand dollars.

Today’s first-ever attempt to set a gurdwara on fire, which coincides with Lohri, marks a third first in Melbourne - the earlier two firsts being the fatal stabbing of 21 year-old Nitin Garg (January 2) and an attempt to set 29-year-old Jaspreet Singh on fire (January 9).

Surinder Singh, a member of the kirtani jatha at Gurdwara Nanaksar Taath, told The Tribune that some unidentified people carrying torches broke through the fence around midnight and set afire a new building that was under construction in the gurdwara complex. He said a granthi, also named Surinder Singh, had just reached his residential quarters in the complex after earlier sitting through an akhand path when he heard the sound of someone breaking through the fence. As he stepped out, he saw two persons and heard the sound of a few more persons who were carrying flash lights. As he watched trying to make out what was happening, he suddenly saw an outbreak of fire.

“He let out a scream. On hearing his scream, the arsonists rushed towards him. Surinder Singh quickly ran inside and dialled the fire brigade which arrived within 10 to 15 minutes.

By then, the arsonists had left”, narrated Surinder Singh, adding that the police arrived later around 1 a.m.

However, another source said the granthi rushed to the gurdwara where he informed the chief priest and the manager who called the fire brigade.

Surinder Singh said it was not possible to describe the miscreants since it was dark. However, keeping in view that the gurdwara was located in the midst of agricultural land with no residential neighbourhood or market in the vicinity, indications were that the miscreants came with a clear intention to commit arson. The incident has occurred five days after Victoria’s chief commissioner Simon Overland went on the offensive to declare that “Indians were more safe in Australia than in India”.

Crime data compiled by the Victoria Police clearly reflects a proliferation of both a knife culture and rising alcoholism that in turn has led to an increase in crime in multi-cultural Victoria. Stabbing and street violence, in particular, have become a daily occurrence and are affecting all communities and ethnicities. In the past nine weeks alone, three persons have died and over 12 wounded in close to 20 stabbing attacks. A few months ago, a Greek church was set on fire in Melbourne’s East Malvern suburb.

The number of crime incidents in Victoria increased from 1,944 in 2007-08 to 2,002 in 2008-09.


Our faith shaken, says Badal

Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has strongly condemned the reported torching the a gurdwara in Melbourne on Tuesday night. Expressing his anguish over the attack on the Sikh religious place, Badal said such untoward incidence of racial discrimination had also occurred earlier in Australia in which some Punjabis had lost their lives. He said such ugly happenings had shaken the faith and confidence of the peace-loving community, which had been contributing enormously to the growth and economy of that country.

Badal said he would take up this issue with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and urge him to ask the Australian Government to ensure the protection and safety of Sikh religious places and Punjabis in the country.

[www.tribuneindia.com]