GOLDEN TEMPLE IN AMRITSAR; POLICE CONTROL WAITING CROWDS; SIKHS ON BALCONY; IMMOLATION BOWLS; SECRETARY READS TELEGRAMS TO FATEH SINGH.




Initials PW/V/MR/JG


EDITORS: CURFEW IN AMRITSAR (PROD NO 12267 26 DEC '66
FATEH SINGH FASTS (PROD NO. 12259 26 DEC '66)
FATEH SINGH REPEATS SELF-IMMOLATION THREAT (PROD NO.12234, 25
DEC 2 '66) SIKHS WAIT IN AMRITSAR BEFORE AGREEMENT (PROD NO. 12281 27 DEC '66) ALSO REFER.

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Background: AMRITSAR IS RETURNING TO NORMAL AFTER NINE DAYS OF TENSION ENDED ON MONDAY, WHEN A GROUP OF SIKHS LED BY SANT FATEH SINGH CALLED OFF THEIR THREAT TO BURN THEMSELVES TO DEATH. AGREEMENT HAS BEEN REACHED BETWEEN THE SIKHS AND THE INDIAN GOVERNMENT TO DISCUSS FURTHER THE SIKHS' DEMAND THAT THE TOWN OF CHANDIGARH SHOULD BE THE CAPITAL OF THE SIKH-DOMINATED PUNJAB STATE.

SHORTLY BEFORE THE SIKHS WERE DUE TO BURN THEMSELVES, THE SPEAKER OF THE INDIAN PARLIAMENT, MR. HUKAM SINGH ARRIVED AT THE GOLDEN TEMPLE, WHERE THE SIKH LEADER FATEH SINGH WAS FASTING. AFTER DISCUSSION, THE SIKHS CALLED OFF THEIR SELF-IMMOLATION THREAT.

CROWDS GATHERED OUTSIDE THE TEMPLE TO HEAR THE SIKHS ANNOUNCE THEIR DECISION. LATER, HUNDREDS OF TELEGRAMS EXPRESSING JOY AT HIS DECISION, ARRIVED FOR FATEH SINGH. HE HAD FASTED FOR NINE DAYS.

NOW, WITH THE LIFTING OF A CURFEW IN THE TOWN, AMRITSAR IS RETURNING TO NORMAL.