India condemns Vienna violence, wants attackers punished (Lead)
May 25th, 2009 - 3:42 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, May 25 (IANS) India Monday condemned the clashes involving rival Sikh groups in Vienna, which triggered violence in Punjab, and said it has asked Austrian authorities to ensure that the perpetrators of this “completely mindless and wanton attack are brought to justice”.
“It’s a very unfortunate and disturbing development that two groups of people owing allegiance to different families have set up a confrontation among themselves. It’s sad that the attack took place at a gurdwara,” S.M. Krishna said after taking charge as the new external affairs minister.
“There is no place for violence in a secular society like India and certainly no excuse for terror and violation of the sacred premises of a gurdwara to subserve narrow sectarian interests,” Krishna stressed.
“We are constantly monitoring the situation and are in close touch with our mission in Vienna. We are also in close touch with the Austrian authorities,” Krishna said.
He was commenting on Sunday’s violence in Vienna in which one person was killed and at least 15 people were hurt when rival Sikh groups clashed in a gurdwara during a sermon.
“We are determined to ensure that the perpetrators of this completely mindless and wanton attack are brought to justice,” Krishna stressed.
“It’s sad that one person has lost his life,” he said while alluding to the death in the skirmish of Sant Rama Nand, a religious leader who was on a visit to the Austrian capital.
This was the 77-year-old Krishna’s first full day in office after he was named India’s new external affairs minister Saturday.
Six people have been arrested for their suspected role in the clash in Vienna. More arrests are likely to take place soon.
Devotees of Shri Guru Ravidass, whose writings have been included in the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib, meet regularly in a gurdwara near Vienna’s busy West train station.
A sermon in the Sikh shrine, attended by women and children, turned bloody Sunday when five people brandished knives and a sixth fired from a pistol. The armed men were overpowered by the devotees. Many were hurt.
Austria is home to around 3,000 Indians.
- India condemns Vienna gurdwara violence, wants attackers punished - May 25, 2009
- Body of sect leader killed in Vienna to be flown to India - May 25, 2009
- India to bring culprits of Vienna violence to justice: Krishna - May 25, 2009
- Indian Sikh guru dies in Austrian gurdwara attack, six arrested (Second Lead) - May 25, 2009
- Delhi-Lahore bus stopped, curfew imposed in Ludhiana - May 25, 2009
- In Vienna, followers pay last respects to Rama Nand - Jun 02, 2009
- Akal Takht asks SGPC to send team to probe Vienna shooting - Aug 12, 2009
- Indian Sikh guru dies in Austrian gurdwara clash, six held (Lead) - May 25, 2009
- Man who led Vienna attack also in hospital - May 29, 2009
- Five ministers take charge, map out priorities (Afternoon Lead) - May 25, 2009
- 3,000 Sikhs to visit Pakistan on Baisakhi - Apr 04, 2012
- Dal Khalsa urges apex Sikh body to probe Vienna shoot-out - Aug 11, 2009
- India awaiting outcome of Vienna violence probe - Jun 01, 2009
- Murdered sect leader's remains to be brought to India - May 31, 2009
- One killed as Punjab burns over Vienna gurdwara clash (Third Lead) - May 25, 2009
Tags: attackers, austrian authorities, austrian capital, clashes, confrontation, devotees, external affairs minister, gurdwara, guru granth, guru ravidass, krishna, owing allegiance, perpetrators, punjab, religious leader, secular society, sermon, sikh holy book, skirmish, train station