Mahema (Jalandhar), June 18

Tension between Jat Sikhs and Dalits over the possession and alleged desecration of a “dera” of here seems to have partly subsided following the arrest of the “head” of the “dera” and two others today.

A group of Dalits, who claimed that a part of the “dera” was under their control, had been protesting against police in action against a group of Jat Sikhs headed by one Mohinder Singh, who were in possession of the other part of the “dera” and had allegedly thrown away the “Nishan Sahib” of the “dera” into the village pond. They had also organised a sit in before Mehatpur police station on Saturday, which had prompted the police to book and arrest the accused.

The Jat Sikhs led by Mohinder Singh, on the other hand, alleged that a group of unscrupulous persons had been levelling baseless charges against them and trying to get them framed with a view to usurping the adjoining gurdwara land used by them for offering prayers.

But what led to the tension in the village and the surrounding areas was allegations by Dalits led by Amarjit Singh that Mohinder Singh and certain other members of the “Jat” community had barged into two “dera” rooms after breaking open the doors on June 8 and had thrown away the “dera’s Nishan Sahib” in the village pond.

Mr Pushkar Sandal, DSP, Nakodar, said there was no tension in the village as for now and all three accused had been arrested as had been demanded by the Dalits and other followers of the “dera”.