Arson Attack at Home of Gurdwara Head in UK

June 20, 2007

Author: Staff Writer

Source: DNAIndia.com

http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1104732

LONDON: The head of a Gurdwara and his family had to flee their home in Birmingham after it was targeted by unidentified arsonists, in what is believed to be a reprisal attack for allowing a mixed marriage.

Three cars were set ablaze outside the Handsworth Wood home of Jarnail Singh Bhogal, President of the Ramgharia Sikh Gurdwara in Graham Street, Hockley.

The attack in the early hours of Monday comes in the wake of protests against the marriage, the details of which were posted on an online Sikh forum naming the temple leaders.

The website referred to a marriage between a Sikh woman and a man of another religion and called on Sikhs to protest outside the Gurdwara against "this disgraceful act".

It also demanded the resignation of Bhogal and warned Gurdwara leaders that there will be consequences if they allow mixed marriages.

According to Gurdwara sources, the man involved in the marriage converted to Sikhism before the ceremony.