Amritsar, Oct 13 (IANS): Police had to intervene on Thursday as rival Sikh groups clashed inside the Golden Temple complex, where the holiest of Sikh shrines "Harmandir Sahib" is located, leaving several people injured.

Brandishing swords, members of a group of "parallel jathedars" clashed with members of the SGPC (Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee) task force near the entrance of the complex.

The SGPC task force members tried to prevent the other group, led by Johar Singh -- president of the managing committee of Chhota Ghallughara Gurdwara at Qadian (in Gurdaspur district) -- from entering the complex and moving towards the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikh religion.

Both sides received injuries.

Johar Singh had been summoned by the "parallel jathedars" to clarify his stand over the ruckus created at the Qadian gurdwara in August following allegations of involvement of a member of the gurdwara management in immoral activities.

The clash took place when the supporters of parallel jathedars got involved in a verbal duel with the SGPC task force members. As both sides clashed with swords, sticks and other traditional weapons, the police had to intervene.

The parallel jathedars were appointed by hardline Sikh groups in 2015.