Granthi arrested for sacrilege at Rupnagar village gurdwara
RUPNAGAR : Rupnagar police on Sunday arrested a granthi for the sacrilege of a “bir” (copy) of Guru Granth Sahib at Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan in Rupnagar’s Dangoli village.
On Saturday, some pages of the “bir” were found torn in the gurdwara. A case under Section 294-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of Indian Penal Code was registered against unidentified persons at the Rupnagar sadar police station.
Rupnagar SSP Raj Bachan Singh Sandhu said during investigation, it was found that granthi Jagtar Singh of Dangoli was changing his statement repeatedly. He had earlier told police that he had left for his house at 5.45 am after completing the morning “nitnem path” (recitation of daily prayers) and closing the main door of the gurdwara. Later, he told police that he had left the door open.
The granthi also told police that he informed people about the incident, but during investigation it came to light that he was lying. The granthi confessed to have torn the pages of the “bir”, said the SSP.
Jagtar told the police that he worked as a truck driver and there was pressure on him from villagers that there should be only one gurdwara in the village. But owner of the land on which the gurdwara is built was not ready for it.