MAN HELD FOR TEARING PAGES OF HOLY BOOK

BALACHAUR (NAWANSHAHR): A 35-year-old man tore at least 50 pages of holy ‘bir’ (copy) of Guru Granth Sahib at Gurdwara Dharamshala Guru Granth Sahib at Bachori village, 7km from here on Tuesday.

The accused, Jagjit Singh, alias Jagga, of the same village has been arrested.

The case has been registered under section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) at the Balachaur police station, police said.

This sacrilege incident came three days after torn pages of holy ‘bir’ of Guru Granth Sahib were found at Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan at Dangoli village in Rupnagar, where the gurdwara granthi was held for the crime.

Police said Jagjit’s mother died on Tuesday and after her cremation, he came to the gurdwara and started tearing pages of the Guru Granth Sahib.

He also removed his clothes and sat on the floor.

Granthi Gurjinder Singh, who was to perform prayers for Jagjit’s mother as all the people were expected to arrive at the gurdwara after the cremation, spotted him and informed the police.

Investigation officer assistant sub-inspector Nirmal Singh said Jagjit has been arrested for the offence.