A bullet hit the bonnet of a Punjab Police SUV parked outside the residence of former Akal Takht jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh in Amritsar's Pratap Nagar, though the initial probe has ruled out any attack, said police officials on Friday.
The incident came to light on the day when Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president and former Punjab deputy chief minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was attacked at Takht Hazur Sahib in Nanded, Maharashtra, on Thursday.
Giani Raghbir Singh said the incident appeared to have occurred late at night on August 12. However, the family came to know about it only around 5 pm on August 13 when the driver was cleaning the vehicle and noticed the bullet mark. During the examination, police recovered a .32-bore bullet from the vehicle.
Deep Dive
What details are known about the bullet incident involving Giani Raghbir Singh's SUV?
Why did Giani Raghbir Singh urge police to take the bullet incident seriously?
How have political parties in Punjab reacted to the attack on Sukhbir Singh Badal?
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP-East) Rainder Singh said, “As far initial investigation of the bullet mark, a portion of the bullet hit the bonnet at 90 degrees. This reflects that nobody hit it horizontally.
{{/usCountry}}Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP-East) Rainder Singh said, “As far initial investigation of the bullet mark, a portion of the bullet hit the bonnet at 90 degrees. This reflects that nobody hit it horizontally.
{{/usCountry}}The former Jathedar said the sound of the bullet hitting the vehicle was also captured on CCTV cameras installed near the house. The footage purportedly shows a youth arriving near the house on a scooter and later speaking on the phone at a nearby chowk. His identity and motive are yet to be ascertained.
“Some bike riders were also spotted in the CCTV footage, who are seen roaming at that time. We are questioning them, but so far we have got no vital clue”, said the police official.
Police also seized an empty cartridge from the spot. Investigators are examining whether the firing was targeted or the result of an aerial shot.
The former Jathedar said he had not received any direct threat or threatening phone call. However, he recalled that there had been instances in the past when attempts were allegedly made to hit his vehicle from the side or push it into a ditch. He said such incidents had not been taken seriously at the time.
He urged police to treat the latest incident seriously, pointing out that a stray bullet could have hit a passerby or caused a fatality.
An FIR was registered in this connection against unknown persons, and an investigation is going on.
After retirement, Giani Raghbir Singh is staying at his personal residence. The Punjab Police have not withdrawn his security cover after his retirement.
In December 2, 2024 decree, Giani Raghbir Singh-led Sikh clergy pronounced 'tankhah' (religious punishment) on Sukhbir Singh Badal, directing the working committee of the Shiromani Akali Dal to accept his resignation as party chief in three days, besides forming a panel to hold elections for the post of SAD president and office-bearers within six months, in a decision that can potentially have far-reaching ramifications for the Sikh religio-politics. Pronouncing the religious punishment for the "mistakes" committed by the SAD and its government in Punjab from 2007 to 2017, the Sikh clergy announced to withdraw the title of ‘Panth Rattan Fakhr-e-Qaum’ bestowed upon former chief minister late Parkash Singh Badal.
On February 26, the SGPC also removed Giani Raghbir Singh from the post of head granthi of Sachkhand Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple), a day after he made the allegations during a press conference in Jalandhar on February 18, accusing the Badal family of “grievously hurting” Sikh religious sentiments for political gains and calling for a Sarbat Khalsa to “liberate” the SGPC from “clutches of Badals”.
Giani Raghbir Singh's move came at a time when he was seen as on good terms with the AAP government. Despite Akal Takht taking a tough stand against the recently enacted anti-sacrilege law, Giani Raghbir Singh supported it. He was also seen sharing bonhomie with the AAP leaders.