Germany: Several injured as clash erupts in Gurdwara; pepper spray, knives, gun used

Berlin: A case of a violent clash at a Gurdwara in Germany has come to light. Eleven people were injured in this incident. The situation escalated to such an extent that the police had to deploy a special commando unit. Eyewitnesses suggest that this clash was part of a conspiracy.

What was the incident?

Specifically, this incident took place at the Gurdwara Singh Sabha located in Moers, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. On Sunday, more than 40 people clashed over a dispute regarding the Gurdwara's management and finances.

According to the German newspaper 'Bild', the attackers were armed with chili spray, pepper spray, knives, 'kirpans', and even a gun. As violence erupted, panic ensued among the people present inside the Gurdwara. People began fleeing the premises barefoot in a desperate bid to save their lives.

Eyewitnesses at the scene stated that the attack appeared to have been premeditated. The assault was launched on Sunday afternoon, just as the prayer service was about to begin. A 56-year-old eyewitness recounted, "Shortly before the prayer service, the attackers used chili spray, and then one of them fired a pistol. I also saw knives."

Why Did the Violence Erupt?

According to reports, the violence stemmed from a long-standing dispute between former and current members of the Gurdwara committee. The eyewitness further explained, "This has caused a rift between the former committee members and the current ones. The community's funds are also involved. Problems had been brewing for quite some time, but fundamentally, this conflict is about who holds authority within the Gurdwara."

Independent journalist Ravinder Singh Robin shared a video claiming that the clash was triggered by a dispute over the *Golak* (donation box) and an attempt by the former committee to forcibly seize administrative control. Robin wrote on 'X' (formerly Twitter), "Sikhs are fighting inside the Gurdwara; turbans are flying in the air, and *kirpans*—which are meant to protect the vulnerable—are being wielded against one another. This is shocking." The German police have launched an investigation into the incident. Paramedics and doctors treated the injured at the scene. Most of them sustained head injuries.