Prayers at Sikh Temple in New York erupt in sword fight

[cali]

Reuters

By Jonathan Allen Jonathan Allen – Mon Apr 25, 6:51 pm ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) – A leadership dispute that turned violent at a Sikh temple in New York, interrupting prayers with swinging swords and cricket bats, landed congregants in court on Monday on criminal charges, a prosecutor said.

Amid screaming, yelling, punching and the swinging of weapons, followers of the two men who each claim to be the rightful president of the Baba Makhan Shah Lobana Sikh Center in Richmond Hill set upon each other on Sunday morning, according to court documents filed by the Queens District Attorney's office.

Eight men were arrested on various charges of assault, criminal possession of a weapon and disruption of a religious service, police said. A police officer suffered minor injuries during the brawl.

"It's shameful for everybody," said Gurmej Singh, who said he was elected as president effective at the beginning of the year. "This is a religious place where we go for peace and people are ready to be killing each other. I feel bad."

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110425/us_nm/us_crime_sikh_temple_1

[FSogol]

1. We all feel bad, Mr. Singh. Religion sucks. n/t

[Javaman]

2. Don't you hate it when you go to your place of worship and a pirate movie breaks out? nt

[WatsonT]

3. This is what most religions are missing

I'd go to church if there was a good possibility of a sword fight.