Armed police surrounded the Gurdwara Sahib in Leamington Spa after they were called to the temple on Tachbrook Park Drive at 6.47am.
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Jatinder Singh Birdi, a former treasurer at the temple, said a marriage between a Sikh and non-Sikh couple was due to take place.
Fifty-five Sikh men were arrested in UK’s Warwickshire after a gang of 20-30 sword-wielding men stormed a gurudwara in the Leamington Spa area on Sunday and blocked its entrance for eight hours.
Throughout the day, police and local religious people went into the Gurdwara to try and negotiate with the protesters, in an attempt to bring the protest to a peaceful end.
The Sikh Council UK, as well as other Sikh leadership organisations spoke with the Warwick Police which revealed that the Gurdwara committee had reported that spears, other weapons and possibly a gun were being used by threatening youth.
Police said the 55 demonstrators were arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass.
Scotland Yard is facing allegations of racial discrimination, including by a British-Indian woman officer who was called a “good little Hindu girl”.
This is not the first time mixed-faith marriages have been opposed by Sikh groups in the UK.
“Marriage is a sacred institution and in our culture we have no problem with people of difference races getting married, but the religious doctrine says this particular ceremony is reserved for two Sikhs”, Singh told AFP. Another non-ceremonial weapon was seized. “As a result of reports that the men were in possession of these weapons we deployed armed officers as a precaution”, he added.
Sikh Youth Birmingham posted on Facebook describing the siege as a “peaceful protest”.
A year ago a resolution saying that interfaith couples could not have a Sikh marriage in Gurdwareh was approved at meeting called by the Sikh Council UK and represented by 300 Sikh organisations, Sikh Youth UK said.
“We would like to reassure people that this is not being treated as a terrorist incident”, police said.
Sikh community leaders have accused police of over-reacting to a peaceful demonstration after 55 protesters were arrested at a temple and armed officers attended.
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The Sikh Federation UK said the armed police response was “unnecessary”.
