Copy of Guru Granth Sahib found burnt in Malerkotla, CM says bid to polarise voters

Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh said the deliberate mischief in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls is another crude attempt by divisive forces to polarise the state, and asked the police to hunt and punish the culprits.

A ‘bir’ (copy) of Guru Granth Sahib was found burnt at a gurdwara in Hathoa village of Malerkotla, on Saturday night, near the residence of Punjab’s higher education minister Razia Sultana.

The gurdwara in Hathoa village of Malerkotla where a copy of the holy book was found burnt. (HT Photo)

The incident came to light when the priest, Joga Singh, upon seeing the lock of the main entrance broken at 4 am , entered the sanctum sanctorum to find the ‘bir’ burnt. Singh immediately called out to residents and informed the president of Gurudwara management committee who then called the police.

IG Patiala range AS Rai and SSP Sandeep Garg reached the spot and inspected the site but Sikh activists alleged that evidence were destroyed to protect the guilty. Meanwhile SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal, and parallel jathedars Dhian Singh Mand and Amrik Singh Ajnala, and leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema also arrived at the gurdwara and condemned the act.

Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh said the deliberate mischief in the run-up to Lok Sabha polls is another crude attempt by divisive forces to polarise the state, and asked the police to hunt and punish the culprits.

Speaking to HT, Mand said, “It is more disturbing that police collected the remains and cleaned the crime spot to save the guilty. We will not call off protests till the accused are arrested.”

IG AS Rai said police are probing the matter from different angles. He said, “Forensic science team and other experts have collected samples and the police is investigating.”

SSP Garg said that the police have registered a case against unknown men under section 295 –A of the IPC at Amargarh police station.