MOUNT HOLLY, Aug.30, 2005
By JOHN REITMEYER
Burlington County Times
A Sikh temple in Springfield where violence broke
out between two factions of worshipers earlier this
year will remain closed because a judge said he is
not convinced another incident won't happen.
A dispute involving two factions of worshipers at
Gurdwara Khalsa Dabar, a temple on Old York Road,
is being decided through Superior Court proceedings
initiated by a lawsuit that was filed last year.
The temple, however, has been closed since April
after a massive brawl involving the brandishing
of crescent-shaped ceremonial knives called "kirpans"
broke out. Five people suffered minor wounds inflicted
by the knives, which are part of the religious dress
of some Sikhs. More than 100 people were involved
in the fight.
At issue is which faction controls the temple and
its finances. Lawyers for both sides were in court
again yesterday.
The plaintiffs in the case are asking for a reopening
of the temple, saying video cameras and off-duty police
officers would make the temple safe again. That faction
also wants the defendants in the case barred from
the temple
The defendants believe the two sides could use the
temple on an alternate basis.
After listening to arguments from each side, Judge
Ronald E. Bookbinder decided not to allow the temple
to reopen. He said there's still no guarantee that
violence would not break out there again.
"The number one issue is safety," Bookbinder
said.
The judge's decision was punctuated moments later
by an argument that broke out between the two factions
as they were leaving the courtroom. A Burlington County
Sheriff's Department officer had to keep the groups
and their lawyers apart as they moved into the lobby
of the courthouse yesterday.
