Rama Nand
Encyclopedia
Sant Rama Nandji was a leader of the Dera Sach Khand
, a follower of Ravidassia.
His name came to international attention when he was murdered at the age of 57 in a 24 May 2009 attack in the urdwara Sri Guru Ravidass ji in Vienna|Gurdwara Sri Guru Ravidass ji] in Rudolfsheim Vienna
.
The attack triggered rioting across much of Northern India.
He was cremated with full state honors on 4 June 2009, in Ballan, India
.
.
Press reports indicate variously that there were 5 or 6 attackers, carrying knives and guns or knives and a gun, and described the attackers as "fundamentalist Sikhs" or "young Sikh men" or "turban
ed Sikhs" or "fundamentalist Jat Sikhs."
Two of the victims were identified as visiting Dera Sach Khand head Nirajnan Das, 68, and another leader, Rama Nand, 57.
Rama Nand suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died in hospital early 25 May 2009.
At least 15 others were injured, including 4 of the attackers, who were in the end subdued by the other worshipers.
in London
, purportedly from the Khalistan Zindabad Force
, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Austriantimes.at reported that a later email purported to be from the Khalistan Zindabad Force denied all involvement in this attack.
The later email appeared to have a scanned copy of KZF’s letterhead and contained a date change in longhand. This cast doubt on its authenticity.
Austriantimes.at also reported that the visiting leaders had been warned for some time of possible violence against them.
A 28 May 2009 Diepresse.com article reported that the identities of the 6 alleged attackers had been established, though their motives had not.
5 had been questioned thoroughly, but the 6th, the alleged leader, was still too ill to interview, having been shot in the head.
Of the 6, all males between 24 and 45 and from Punjab and other regions in northern India, 2 had entered the country illegally, and 4 had applied for asylum.
Nirajnan Das it reported was "on the road to recovery". Both the 6th alleged attacker and Nirajnan Das were reportedly under heavy guard at the hosptital.
An email received by The Tribune
newspaper, purported to be from Ranjit Singh Jammu of the KZF, expressed sympathy for the "Sant Ravidass brotherhood" and denied any involvement.
Akash Radio reported on its web site that it had received, on 29 May 2009, a 3rd email purported to be from the KZF.
In this 3rd email, Akash reports, the KZF stated that "Indian agencies" used its letterhead to deny responsibility, and went on to emphasize that it took responsibility for the attack that resulted in the death of Rama Nand, and that KZF had sent the letter to an Indian newspaper which did not print the claim of responsibility, but which was quick to print the retraction.
Austriantimes.at reported on 1 June 2009 that "cops" believed that while there were email claims of KZF responsibility, factional rivalry between Austrian sects actually drove the attack, and quoted an investigator: "Professional terrorists do not turn up with a rusty, old 9mm gun."
Dera Sach Khand
Dera Sach Khand is a religious social organization based in the village of Ballan, near Jalandhar, Punjab, India.It was founded by devotees of Shri Guru Ravidas Ji....
, a follower of Ravidassia.
His name came to international attention when he was murdered at the age of 57 in a 24 May 2009 attack in the urdwara Sri Guru Ravidass ji in Vienna|Gurdwara Sri Guru Ravidass ji] in Rudolfsheim Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
The attack triggered rioting across much of Northern India.
He was cremated with full state honors on 4 June 2009, in Ballan, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
Attack
On Sunday, May 24, 2009, several people were attacked in Gurdwara Sri Guru Ravidass ji, the Ravidas temple in Rudolfsheim ViennaVienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
.
Press reports indicate variously that there were 5 or 6 attackers, carrying knives and guns or knives and a gun, and described the attackers as "fundamentalist Sikhs" or "young Sikh men" or "turban
Turban
In English, Turban refers to several types of headwear popularly worn in the Middle East, North Africa, Punjab, Jamaica and Southwest Asia. A commonly used synonym is Pagri, the Indian word for turban.-Styles:...
ed Sikhs" or "fundamentalist Jat Sikhs."
Two of the victims were identified as visiting Dera Sach Khand head Nirajnan Das, 68, and another leader, Rama Nand, 57.
Rama Nand suffered multiple gunshot wounds and died in hospital early 25 May 2009.
At least 15 others were injured, including 4 of the attackers, who were in the end subdued by the other worshipers.
Aftermath
The attack triggered protests and rioting across northern India resulting in at least one death.Claims and denials of responsibility
An email reportedly received by Radio AkashAkash Radio
Amar Radio is a community radio channel, aimed at the Asian community. Based in Southall, London, it was launched on 27 June 2002 as Akash Radio....
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, purportedly from the Khalistan Zindabad Force
Khalistan Zindabad Force
The Khalistan Zindabad Force is a militant group, and is part of the Khalistan movement to create a Sikh homeland called Khalistan via armed struggle.It was identified in 2005 as a terrorist organisation by the EU.-Organization and activity:...
, claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Austriantimes.at reported that a later email purported to be from the Khalistan Zindabad Force denied all involvement in this attack.
The later email appeared to have a scanned copy of KZF’s letterhead and contained a date change in longhand. This cast doubt on its authenticity.
Austriantimes.at also reported that the visiting leaders had been warned for some time of possible violence against them.
A 28 May 2009 Diepresse.com article reported that the identities of the 6 alleged attackers had been established, though their motives had not.
5 had been questioned thoroughly, but the 6th, the alleged leader, was still too ill to interview, having been shot in the head.
Of the 6, all males between 24 and 45 and from Punjab and other regions in northern India, 2 had entered the country illegally, and 4 had applied for asylum.
Nirajnan Das it reported was "on the road to recovery". Both the 6th alleged attacker and Nirajnan Das were reportedly under heavy guard at the hosptital.
An email received by The Tribune
The Tribune
The Tribune is an Indian English-language daily newspaper published from Chandigarh, New Delhi, Jalandhar, Dehradun and Bathinda. It was founded on 2 February 1881, in Lahore , by Sardar Dyal Singh Majithia, a public-spirited philanthropist, and is run by a trust comprising five eminent persons as...
newspaper, purported to be from Ranjit Singh Jammu of the KZF, expressed sympathy for the "Sant Ravidass brotherhood" and denied any involvement.
Akash Radio reported on its web site that it had received, on 29 May 2009, a 3rd email purported to be from the KZF.
In this 3rd email, Akash reports, the KZF stated that "Indian agencies" used its letterhead to deny responsibility, and went on to emphasize that it took responsibility for the attack that resulted in the death of Rama Nand, and that KZF had sent the letter to an Indian newspaper which did not print the claim of responsibility, but which was quick to print the retraction.
Austriantimes.at reported on 1 June 2009 that "cops" believed that while there were email claims of KZF responsibility, factional rivalry between Austrian sects actually drove the attack, and quoted an investigator: "Professional terrorists do not turn up with a rusty, old 9mm gun."