Sikh sect leader injured in attack at UK gurdwara

Namdhari sect head Thakur Uday Singh was injured in an attack by a Sikh man after morning prayers at a gurdwara in Britain's Leicester city, police said today.
The attacker was arrested after the incident yesterday and is currently in custody, Leicestershire Police said.
"Guruji is recovering fast and was discharged from hospital yesterday," said Ranjit Singh, general secretary of the Namdhari Gurdwara on Linden Street in Leicester.
"The facial injuries are not that serious but he has fractured his right wrist," he said.
Though police did not reveal the identity of the attacker, Ranjit Singh said the accused was a Sikh man but not from the Namdhari sect.

"At this stage, we would not like to speculate further but he may have been instigated by someone known to the sect," he said.

According to reports, the attacker was caught by members of the congregation present for the prayers.
The man, wrapped in a blanket, moved towards Singh with a 'gandasa', a traditional Punjabi farming tool, and aimed for his head.
The sect leader deflected the attack but suffered injuries to his face and arm. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary in Leicester and was discharged following stitches to his nose and treatment of his broken wrist.
Singh took over as Namdhari sect leader in December after the death of Satguru Jagjit Singh. His selection triggered some controversy within the sect.

He had travelled to the UK from India to convene a Namdhari Darbar.