Terrorists Shoot Top Sikh Priest at Golden Temple

Three terrorists today shot and wounded the highest priest of Sikhism and killed his bodyguard inside the Golden Temple, the faith’s holiest shrine.

The attack on Giani Sahib Singh, the temple head priest, occurred while 15,000 people thronged the shrine for the sect’s main religious festival.

The pro-government priest, who has received death threats from radical Sikhs who condemn him as a traitor, was wounded in the back and arm but not seriously injured, a state police spokesman said.

Singh, 45, was hospitalized for treatment after the 4:50 a.m. attack by three turbaned youths who are suspected of being Sikh terrorists, the spokesman said.

Punjab, the only state where Sikhs outnumber Hindus, has been wracked by violence for four years. In June, 1984, the Indian army assaulted the Golden Temple to drive out Sikh terrorists who had been using it as a haven between raids. About 1,200 people were killed.

Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated Oct. 31, 1984, and authorities blamed Sikh bodyguards who allegedly wanted to retaliate against her for ordering the temple attack.

Her son and successor, Rajiv Gandhi, made a peace agreement with moderate Sikh leaders, but many of them have been targets of assassination by extremists who want independence or autonomy for Punjab.

Singh and a fellow priest, Kirpal Singh, have been denounced ever since they appeared on government-run television to publicly downplay the devastation and casualties in the 1984 attack.

Singh, which means lion, is adopted as a surname by all male Sikhs.

The assailants shot the bodyguard while the priest was kneeling on a promenade before conducting prayers, then opened fire at Sahib Singh as he fled.