The World : Sikhs Battle Over Peace

Rival Sikh groups fought with swords, stones and field-hockey sticks in the Golden Temple complex of the Sikh holy city of Amritsar, India, leaving 12 wounded. The clash erupted over a controversial peace plan for Punjab state. The Press Trust of India said the fighting pitted opponents and supporters of Sikh leader Harchand Singh Longowal, who signed an agreement with Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi last week to end violence in Punjab. The battle erupted when Longowal, head of the main Sikh political party, the Akali Dal, arrived for a meeting of his supporters to discuss the peace plan. Witnesses said that about 800 opponents of the accord tried to disrupt the meeting. About 30 shots were fired and about 35 people were arrested, reports said.