Islamabad: The Nankana Sahib Gurudwara and a college in its campus in Lahore were attacked by a mob on Saturday (25, 2004) following which security around the shrine has been stepped up.

"The mob first attacked the college and then stormed the temple and threw stones at it" to protest a Committee's recommendation that the Punjab Government return the Government Guru Nanak Degree College building to the Nankana Sahib Trust to accommodate Sikh pilgrims and shift the college to some other premises, 'Daily Times' reported quoting police.

Neither the Gurudwara nor the college authorities had so far approached the police to register a complaint.

The Deputy Inspector General of police reached the spot and deployed forces to prevent further attacks. The attack drew protests from the Sikh community who demonstrated in front of the Lahore press club.

"Things are under control. We are satisfied. But there are some miscreants who want to tarnish the Pakistan-India talks. The attack was the first of its kind in the history of Pakistan," Kalyan Singh of the Sikh Sangat of Pakistan was quoted as saying by the newspaper.

Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi deplored the incident, saying those who took law into their hands would be dealt with sternly, a provincial release quoted him as saying.

Tarlochan Singh, Chairman of the National Minorities Commission currently in Dubai, condemned the attack, saying it will damage bilateral relations when two countries are trying to come closer.

"The attack on the Gurudwara which is a sacred place for Sikhs all over the world is a heinous crime particularly because the Gurudwara has no body but the Pakistan authorities to protect it.

"It is a shameful act as it will instil fear into the 50-strong small Sikh community there and it has hurt the sentiments of millions of Sikh people," Tarlochan Singh, who was in Dubai to attend an NRI meet, said.

Singh, who was at the Gurudwara some two weeks ago, said the number of Sikhs making a pilgrimage to Nankana Sahib has increased tremendously over the years and "it is sad that some people have chosen to attack the Gurudwara on the basis of a proposal which is at its early stage".

Elahi said the Government considered the safety of all minorities, including Sikhs, and protecting the sanctity of their sites of worship a prime responsibility and would do its duty.

He directed the police to punish those directly involved in the "deplorable act" as well as those who instigated them, the release said.

Gulab Singh, another member of Sikh Sangat Pakistan, said he was not satisfied with the security arrangements made by police. "They sent only 200 men there while they promised that 500 policemen would be sent to Nankana Sahib to protect the Gurudwara Janam Asthan and the properties of Sikhs."

"We are facing a serious problem there. The students have given a call to all the students in the district and have threatened to attack again," Gulab Singh said.