The Ludhiana police on Wednesday arrested an ex-armyman for desecrating a Sikh holy book (‘gutka’) in Navi Abadi Akalgarh area.
The accused has been identified as Joiner Singh, 55, who is a baptised Sikh. Police said the accused used to stop his wife from reciting hymns from the holy book, and during their dispute on Wednesday, he set it on fire.
The village panchayat called police after some villagers reported the incident.
Raikot DSP Tajinder Pal Singh reached the spot and recovered the burnt ‘gutka’. Sudhar SHO Balwant Singh said the accused was arrested after booking him under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code.