Sikh shootout in Austria came without warning

Vienna: Following a fatal shooting incident among the Sikh community in Austrian capital Vienna on Saturday, an Austrian intelligence official said on Monday the authorities were "totally surprised" by the escalation of religious conflict among the country's Indian community.

Werner Autericky, head of the Vienna department of Austria's intelligence and counter-terrorism service, said at a press conference that there have been "no indications of a simmering conflict" within Austria's Indian community in the past.

Nevertheless, police are now taking action to observe the Indian Embassy in Vienna and Consulates throughout the country. However, no decision has been made yet if members of the attacked religious group of Sikhs will get personal police protection.

Austria has a relatively large proportion of Sikhs in its expat community compared to other Central Europe countries. A lot of them came over during the 1980s, when many Sikhs, who were forced to leave Punjab due to religious conflicts, could easily find work as newspaper distributors in Austria. Vienna granted thousands of special working permits for this particular profession to expats at that time.

Austrian Interior Minister Maria Fekter said on Monday that the ministry has "never" been aware of serious conflicts among the Sikh groups. While Austria's annual intelligence service report lists plenty of "conflict groups" - comprising nationals as well as expats - being constantly under surveillance of the authorities, Sikhs have never been among them.

However, Kumar Baluinder, deputy chairman of the Ravidas Association in Vienna, feels that Austrian authorities simply failed to understand what the conflict among Sikhs is all about. He said he contacted police a few days before the shootout to explain to them the sensitivity of the issue, but no action was taken.

"They simply did not listen", he said. The incident, however, meant grist to the mills for Austria's right-wing xenophobic movement of the Freedom Party, which demanded an entry ban "for problem gurus and hatemongers", a statement strongly criticised by Austria's more distinguished ruling coalition representatives.

As reported, one person died and 30 were injured following a shootout and a stabbing at a Sikh prayer hall on the outskirts of Vienna on Saturday. The attackers, 45-year-old Tarsem S. and 28-year-old Satwinder S. and four other unidentified persons, entered the prayer hall around noon and suddenly opened fire at the congregation and began random stabbing.

At least five people were heavily injured by shots at the head and severe knife wounds, among them Guru Sant Rama Nand (57) and Guru Sant Niranjan Das (68). Sant Rama Nand succumbed to his injuries on Monday morning.

Later on Monday, Sikh protesters in Punjab took to the streets over the Vienna incident. Two died in clashes with police after cars and buildings have been set on fire.