WORLD BRIEFING / AUSTRIA
Sikhs wielding knives and a handgun attacked two preachers at a rival temple in Vienna, killing one of them in a brawl that left at least 15 people wounded, Austrian police and witnesses said. A related clash later broke out in northern India.
Witnesses said a group of turbaned men attacked the preachers at the temple in Austria’s capital and their followers moved to defend them.
The preachers were identified by Indian diplomats and police as Niranjan Das and Sant Rama Nand. Both underwent operations for gunshot wounds, but Rama Nand died later.
Police spokesman Michael Takacs said the scene was “like a battlefield.” Six suspects were in custody, he said.
Mohinder Ram, who said he attended services at the temple every Sunday, said it is run by followers of the Dera Sachkhand sect, founded by Guru Ravidas in the 14th century.
Several hours later, in India, fighting broke out in Jalandhar between mainstream Sikhs and followers of the guru.
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