SACRILEGE IN TARN TARAN: TORN PAGES OF ‘GUTKA’ FOUND IN DRAIN

TARNTARAN :In an another incident of sacrilege of scriptures, torn pages of the ‘gutka’ (collection of Gurbani verses from the Sikh holy book) were found scattered in an open drain at Khalra village along the border with Pakistan in Tarn Taran district on Tuesday evening.

It came to notice of two residents, Harjit Singh and Nishan Singh, when they were on their way to a market in the area close to the office of the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL). Other residents gathered and they brought the matter to the notice of the police that reached the spot in half an hour. Deputy superintendent of Police (DSP), Bhikhiwind, Jaimal Singh also arrived.

After cleaning, the pages were sent to Goindwal Sahib for ceremonial cremation, as Sikhs consider the holy book Guru Granth Sahib as a living master. The police registered a case against unidentified persons.

On Wednesday, other senior officials including superintendent of police (operations) Harpal Singh also reached the village, where members of Sikh organisations gathered to demand action. Harpal Singh told them the police have launched a hunt to trace the culprits.

BADUNGAR FLAYS THE ACT, COMMITTEES

Meanwhile, Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Kirpal Singh Badungar, in a statement, condemned the act. “The incident has hurt religious sentiments of Sikhs and the act reflects evil thinking of those who committed it.”

Asking managing committees of gurdwaras to become cautious of these acts, the SGPC chief stated that, “It is matter of concern that so many sacrilege incident have taken place, yet these committees are negligent.” A probe panel of the SGPC led by additional secretary Balwinder Singh was sent to the spot too. AFTER CLEANING, THE PAGES WERE SENT TO GOINDWAL SAHIB FOR CEREMONIAL CREMATION, AS SIKHS CONSIDER THE HOLY BOOK GURU GRANTH SAHIB AS A LIVING MASTER