KARACHI, June 28: Various Hindu organizations, related to the disputed Guru Nanak Temple Arambagh, have alleged that a Sikh community member had taken away various articles belonging to the temple just before it was sealed on the orders of the Sindh High Court.

Speaking at a press conference at the Karachi Press Club on Tuesday, Girdhari Lal and Kishin Kumar of the Guru Nanak Shewa Mandli and Ashok Jethmalani of the All Hindu Shewadhari Association said that a report regarding the taking away of the temple goods by Hira Singh had been made at the Aram Bagh police station.

They said the temple at Aram Bagh was a disputed property and the ownership matter between the Hindus and the Sikhs was pending in the court, which had ordered that the temple be sealed till the dispute was settled. “But before the temple could be sealed, Hira Singh carted away temple belongings in two Suzuki pickups.

They said that Hiranand used to come to pray at Aram Bagh temple, where besides Hindu idols, the Guru Granth Sahib was also kept. However, after converting from Hinduism to Sikhism, he claimed that this temple was a Gurdwara. And after a dispute with Hindus, a case to decide the ownership was filed in the court.

They said that there are over 250 temples in the province where besides Hindu idols, copies of the Guru Granth Sahib were placed. They alleged that Hira Singh had been trying to claim the possession of these temples also.