In a dramatic early morning operation, police and immigration officials in the United Kingdom stormed a residential property owned by one of Britain's largest Sikh temples. The raid led to the arrest of one individual and has sparked a review of all properties managed by the gurdwara's committee.
The Dawn Raid and Arrest
The joint operation took place at 6:30 am on December 16 at 11 Beaconsfield Road, a house among approximately eight properties belonging to the Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall gurdwara. These properties are traditionally used to accommodate staff serving the gurdwara and visiting preachers from India.
According to the gurdwara's executive committee, the person detained was "not approved by the current committee" but was known to a gurdwara employee. While police have not officially disclosed the charges, a member of the congregation informed reporters that an Indian-origin Sikh man was arrested for alleged involvement in drugs and money laundering. He is reportedly the son of a person who works at the gurdwara.
"Police executed a search warrant for criminal activity and because the house was full of preachers, they had concerns about illegal immigrants, so the immigration service was then called," the congregant said. He described a forceful entry, stating, "The police bashed down every door and detained everyone and handcuffed them while they were searched and checked."
Fallout and Property Review
In the wake of the raid, the executive committee of Sri Guru Singh Sabha Southall announced it is undertaking a comprehensive review of all its properties. The committee stated that individuals not involved in Sabha-related activities and those without formal agreements have been asked to vacate the premises.
This review has had immediate consequences. One of the gurdwara's properties had been provided free of charge by a former committee to Aasra Welfare UK, a refuge for women and children fleeing domestic abuse. Jaskaran Kaur Shergill, director of Aasra, revealed that the current committee has now asked her to return the keys, leaving the three women and five children currently residing there in a precarious situation.
"They can't evict people who are at risk," Shergill asserted, highlighting the dilemma faced by the vulnerable residents. Gurdwara secretary Surinder Singh Dhatt explained the decision, stating the refuge had been served notice because "we don't know who is living there. We want to know who is living in each place and make sure there are no illegal immigrants."
Gurdwara's Response and Past Incidents
The gurdwara management has expressed distress over the manner of the police action. Surinder Singh Dhatt confirmed that the gurdwara has filed a formal complaint with the police regarding the raid. "They should have informed the gurdwara in advance. It has caused a lot of distress to everyone," he said.
This is not the first time properties linked to the gurdwara have faced scrutiny from immigration authorities. The congregant who spoke about the raid noted, "There have been immigration raids in the past on gurdwara properties and illegals have been detained." This history appears to have influenced the committee's decision to tighten control over its housing portfolio.
The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by large religious institutions in managing extensive property assets and ensuring compliance with local laws, while also balancing their community and charitable obligations.
