Nineteen people were injured, two seriously, when All India Sikh Students Federation supporters on Saturday clashed with members of the Shiromani Khalsa Panchayat inside the SGPC complex adjoining the Golden temple in Amritsar, police said.

The clash took place when 300 AISSF activists led by Gurcharan Singh Grewal confronted 500 SKP workers who thronged the complex protesting the removal of Akal Takht jathedar (caretaker) Giani Joginder Singh Vendanti for adopting a liberal attitude towards Baba Dhanwant Singh, chief of the Nawanshahar-based Vishwa Noor Roohani Satsang, allegedly involved in a rape case.

In turn, SKP activists attacked AISSF workers with swords and spears.

Four AISSF activists and three members of the SGPC task force were among those injured in the clash, a police spokesman told reporters.

The injured were taken to the Guru Ram Dass hospital and discharged after being administered first aid.

Eleven people belonging to the two organisations were arrested under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.