Balasore, Nov. 4: Sikhs here here have demanded at least one direct train between Puri and Amritsar linking two prominent sacred places of the country.

“Puri is attached to the Sikh religion since the inception of Khalsa panth. Bhai Himmat Singh (Rai), one of the panj pyare (the five beloved), was born here in 1661,” said Amar Singh Walia, president of Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Balasore.

“He was one of the five Sikhs who had offered to lay down their lives to protect our religion,” he said.

Bhai Himmat Singh, along with four others, had received the vows of the Khalsa at Guru Gobind Singh’s hands .

“If a direct train link is established between Amritsar and Puri, not only will the people of both states be able to visit the two sacred places, but it will also create opportunities for growth of trade and commerce between Punjab and Orissa,” said Jarnail Singh, secretary of the Gurudwara Singh Sabha.

“The direct communication would also benefit the elderly and the physically challenged pilgrims, who otherwise avoid change of trains during traveling,” he said.

“We have been requesting a direct train service here for long. In the past, one train was extended from Delhi up to Amritsar. However, it was later discontinued for unknown reasons,” said Jasbir Singh, a member of the association.