AAMBALA: Gursimran Singh Mand (Gandhi), national president of the International Anti-Khalistan Front, who is protected by Central paramilitary security, was allegedly attacked by a group of youths and his car was extensively damaged at Panjokhra Sahib village in Haryana’s Ambala district on Friday evening. Four people, including two Ambala police personnel who rescued Mand, were injured in the incident.The injured have been identified as Gursimran Mand, Bhavjot of Ludhiana, and Ambala police personnel Rakesh Kumar and Kulbir Rana.Videos of the incident quickly went viral on social media, showing youths allegedly attacking Mand and damaging his vehicle with rods and bricks, while he is seen folding his hands before them.Friday marked the Prakash Gurpurb (birth anniversary) of Guru Harkrishan, the eighth Sikh Guru, due to which a large Sikh congregation had gathered at the historic Gurdwara Panjokhra Sahib, associated with the Guru. The incident occurred on the road leading to the Gurdwara, outside the shrine.The exact reason behind the alleged attack and the ensuing dispute is yet to be ascertained. However, sources said the confrontation began after Mand, accompanied by his security personnel, attempted to drive his car through the crowded route leading to the Gurdwara, allegedly causing inconvenience to the large number of devotees walking towards the shrine to pay obeisance. According to sources, members of the congregation objected to Mand driving his vehicle towards the Gurdwara’s main entrance amid the heavy rush of devotees.Ambala Superintendent of Police Ajit Singh Shekhawat confirmed the incident.“The exact reason will be ascertained after recording Gursimran Mand’s statement. When he came to pay obeisance at the Gurdwara, he got into a heated argument due to some reason and was attacked by a mob. Mand and another person accompanying him sustained injuries, and their vehicle was damaged. Two Ambala police personnel were also injured while rescuing him from the mob. However, all of them are out of danger,” the SP said.He added that legal action would be initiated after Mand’s statement is recorded.Speaking to the media from a hospital while undergoing treatment, Mand alleged, “Jai Shri Ram, Bharat Mata Ki Jai, Vande Mataram. They did not allow me to enter the Gurdwara. I was sitting inside my car. They had planned the attack. First around ten people gathered, then twenty, and soon nearly fifty people started damaging my vehicle. They called Nihang Sikhs, and many local people were also present. They attacked me with swords, sticks and kicks. I suffered injuries on my hand, arm and head, and some of my teeth were also broken. They also seriously assaulted my son, causing injuries to his head.”Mand further alleged, “Haryana police personnel were trying to save me. The attackers forced me to raise slogans of ‘Modi Murdabad’, ‘RSS Murdabad’, ‘Khalistan Zindabad’ and ‘Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale Zindabad’. They asked me to secure the release of Amritpal Singh, who is lodged in Dibrugarh Jail, otherwise they would kill me. They also demanded the release of Amritpal Singh Mehron. They snatched all my belongings. I thank the Haryana Police for rescuing me; otherwise, I would have been killed.”He further claimed, “They questioned why I speak against Khalistan, support Prime Minister Narendra Modi, speak the language of the RSS, and wear saffron robes. I want to tell Prime Minister Narendra Modi that if being a patriot is a crime, then I should be given euthanasia because I serve the nation. The terrorists sitting in Canada disrespect our tricolour, whereas I respect it. With Independence Day approaching, I was planning to visit Srinagar, where terrorists are killing people after asking their religion. I will not be intimidated by such attacks. They will never succeed in creating Khalistan. Our tricolour, Prime Minister Modi and the RSS will remain Zindabad. I will take revenge from these people.”
