Numerous articles refer to Ashutosh of the Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan (The Tribune 9 Dec. 2002; ibid. 1 Dec. 2002a; ibid. 1 Dec. 2002b; ibid. 1 Dec. 2002c; ibid. 29 Nov. 2002a; ibid. 29 Nov. 2002b; ibid. 29 Nov. 2002c; ibid. 26 Nov. 2002; ibid. 7 Oct. 2002; ibid. 6 Oct. 2002; ibid. 5 Oct. 2002; ibid. 26 Sept. 2002; ibid. 20 Sept 2002a; ibid. 20 Sept. 2002b; ibid. 14 Sept. 2002; ibid. 6 Sept. 2002; ibid. 30 Aug. 2002; ibid. 29 Aug. 2002; ibid. 28 Aug. 2002; ibid. 26 Aug. 2002; ibid. 25 Aug. 2002; ibid. 22 Aug. 2002; ibid. 20 Aug. 2002; ibid. 11 Aug. 2002; ibid. 5 Aug. 2002; ibid. 3 Aug. 2002a; ibid. 3 Aug. 2002b; ibid. 2 Aug. 2002a; ibid. 2 Aug. 2002b; ibid. 1 Aug. 2002; The Week 2 Sept. 2002; Indiainfo.com 27 Aug. 2002).

According to information contained on its Website, Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan was "formally inaugurated in Delhi in 1991 under the holy blessings of [its founder] Ashutosh Ji Maharaj" (DJJS n.d.). Headquarted in Noormahal, Punjab, (The Week 1 Sept. 2002), the DJJS was reported to have stated that its group is a "'socially-oriented organisation and not a separate sect or a separate religious body"' (The Tribune 11 Aug. 2002). The goup's objective is to "'create awareness in society and exhort people to follow the path shown by the Gurus and religious books and follow the principle of 'Ek Pita, Ekas Ke Hum Barik''" (ibid.). For further information on the organization, please refer to DJJS's Website.

Fifteen activists of the Dal Khalsa, the All-India Sikh Students Federation, (Mehta), the Khalsa Mission Committee, the Khalsa Panchayat, the United Sikh Organization and the Khalra Dharam Parchar Committee were reported to have been injured by police during a 31 July 2002 demonstration in Malout, Punjab, against the head of the DJJS, Ashutosh (ibid.1 Aug. 2002). Following the incident, police reportedly increased security around the DJJS's deras in Noormahal, Punjab, in order to avoid any further violence (ibid. 2 Aug. 2002a).

The Sikh high priests had reportedly expressed concern over the fact that Ashutosh had been allowed to continue holding his "programme" under "heavy police security" (ibid. 3 Aug. 2002a). The priests alleged that Ashutosh had been making "inflammatory speeches and used derogatory language against Sikh Gurus, Guru Granth Sahib and the Sikhism" (ibid.).

A fact-finding committee formed by the Punjab government to investigate these allegations was reported to have recommended a probe into Ashutosh's background (ibid. 6 Sept. 2002). A one-page report prepared by the committee stated that "'after scrutinizing the literature and audio and video-cassettes of the Divya Jyoti Jagriti Sansthan, the committee has concluded that the contents are against Sikh tenets'" (ibid.). The report further stated that DJJS's literature was "'blasphemous'" and hurt "'Sikh sentiments'" (ibid).

An earlier Tribune article had reported that, in order to avoid further violence following the Malout incident, the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) directed the Punjab government to ensure that Ashutosh not be allowed to hold any functions until the Commission's next hearing (ibid. 28 Aug. 2002; Indiainfo.com 27 Aug. 2002).

A Joint Action Committee (JAC), comprised of various Sikh religious, political and social organizations, was reportedly formed in order to bring a halt to Ashutosh's activities (The Tribune 20 Sept. 2002a). Calling for a ban on Ashutosh, the Committee reportedly criticized the state government for failing to bring a stop to the DJJS's activities (ibid.).

However, a 5 October 2002 Tribune article reported that followers of DJJS in Jalandhar, which had been holding religious gatherings every Thursday and Sunday (ibid. 5 Oct. 2002), had held a peace march in order to protest the district administration's indefinite ban on the group's religious gatherings, which had been imposed to avoid violent incidents (ibid.). Two days later, The Tribune reported that the DJJS had postponed one of its Sunday functions at the request of the Deputy Commissioner in order to avoid conflict with members of the JAC (ibid. 7 Oct. 2002). Reportedly, the JAC had been threatening to defy a Jalandhar municipal ban on rallies and marches in order to protest the DJJS's "distortion of Sikh history" (ibid.).

A December 2002 Tribune article reported that the Punjabi government had not yet banned the activities of the DJJS (ibid. 1 December 2002b).

Just days earlier, Fifty-three people alleged to be members of the DJJS were arrested for their involvement in the beating of a cassette seller in Bharta Ganeshpur village near Mahilpur, Punjab, on 25 November 2002 (ibid. 26 Nov. 2002). The victim had allegedly been selling cassettes containing derogatory comments against the DJJS (ibid.). A later Tribune article reported that three additional DJJS followers had been arrested for their involvement in the incident (ibid. 1 Dec. 2002c).

Following a 28 August 2002 incident in Amritsar in which a portion of the DJJS's local branch building was burnt, police were reported to have been deployed in order to protect the building from further incidents (ibid. 30 Aug. 2002).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Indiainfo.com. 27 August 2002. "Punjab Govt to Ban Activities of Religious Body." http://news.indiainfo.com/2002/08/27/27punjab.html [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

Divya Jyoti Jagrati Sansthan (DJJS). n.d. "History." http://www.divyajyoti.org/HISTORY/HISNEWtop.htm [Accessed 14 Mar 2003]

The Tribune [Chandigarh]. 9 December 2002. "Summon Panjrath at Takht: SAD(A) Leader." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021209/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 1 December 2002a. "SGPC Executive Rejects PSGPC. Seeks Control of Pak, Afghan Gurdwaras." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021201/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 1 December 2002b. "'Ban on Ashutosh's Activities Being Delayed.'" http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021201/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 1 December 2002c. "Three Ashutosh Men Held." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021201/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 29 November 2002a. "Seek CBI Probe into Ashutosh Acts." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021129/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 29 November 2002b. "Noormahalia Files Case Against Jarnail Singh." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021129/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 29 November 2002c. "SP to Probe Case Against Ashutosh Men." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021129/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 26 November 2002. "53 Ashutosh Followers Arrested. Khalsa Panchayat Member Attacked." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021126/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 7 October 2002. "Noormahalias Put Off Function." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021007/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 6 October 2002. "Sikh Bodies Want Ban on Ashutosh." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021006/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 5 October 2002. "Noormahalias Hold Peace March." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20021005/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 26 September 2002. "Noormahalias Put Off Function." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020926/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 20 September 2002a. "Ban Sought on Ashutosh's Meetings." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020920/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 20 September 2002b. "Government Dilly-Dallying on Noormehalias: Badungar." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020920/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 14 September 2002. "Govt 'Distorting' Report on Ashutosh." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020914/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 6 September 2002. "Probe Ashutosh's Bona Fides: Panel." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020906/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 30 August 2002. Varinder Walia. "Police Guards Ashutosh Dera." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020830/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 29 August 2002. "Portion of Noormahalias' Dera Found Burnt." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020829/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 28 August 2002. "Ban Functions of Ashutosh: NCM." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020828/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 26 August 2002. Kanchan Vasder. "Noormehlia Followers Not Allowed to Hold 'Samagam.'" http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020826/ldh2.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 25 August 2002. "SSF Wants Apology from Ashutosh Maharaj." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020825/ldh2.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 22 August 2002. "Noormahalias Seek Pardon." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020822/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 20 August 2002. "SHSAD, AISSF (Gill) Men in Clergy's Panel." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020820/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 11 August 2002. "Noormahalias, A 'Social Body'. Letter Sent to Vedanti." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020811/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 5 August 2002. Amarjit Thind. "Khalsa Panchayat to Confront Ashutosh Followers." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020805/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 3 August 2002a. "Malout Firing: Sikh Bodies Meet on Aug. 5." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020803/punjab1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 3 August 2002b. "Malout Incident. SSF Rejects Probe Panel." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020803/ldh1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 2 August 2002a. Jupinderjit Singh. "Uneasy Calm at Sant's Deras: Police Security Stepped Up." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020802/ldh1.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 2 August 2002b. Chander Parkash and Vijay Mohan. "Police Drops Charges, 10 Freed." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020802/main8.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

_____. 1 August 2002. Chandar Parkash. "18 Hurt in Malout Firing, Lathi Charge." http://www.tribuneindia.com/2002/20020801/main9.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]

The Week. 1 September 2002. Vijaya Pushkarna. "Unholy Row: Sikh Groups Want a Ban on Religious Sect." http://www.the-week.com/22sep01/events5.htm [Accessed 14 Mar. 2003]