The row over demolition of ‘mazar’ at Palasaur village near Taran Taran deepened on Saturday as it came to light that the orders to pull down the structure came from the Akal Takht and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC).
On Thursday, some Sikh activists had demolished the structure following which 69 persons were booked and a protest was staged.
Sources said on the complaint of some Sikh devotees against ‘mazar’ managers Jasjit Singh and Jaspal Singh, the SGPC had sent an inspection team to the spot, nearly 20 days ago, under the supervision of Jasbir Singh Khalsa, employee of the dharam parchar wing of the SGPC.
After inspection, on December 23, 2015, Khalsa, in his letter to SGPC secretary (dharam parchar), said, “ Mazar managers have brought down the wall of the gurdwara complex with an intention to extend the ‘mazar’ area. You are requested to write to the senior superintendent of police (SSP) to take action against the culprits.”
Acting on the report, SGPC additional secretary Simarjit Singh brought the matter to the notice of Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbanchan Singh on December 24. Replying to SGPC additional secretary’s letter, Sukhdev Singh, office in-charge of the Akal Takht said: “As per the direction of the Akal Takht jathether, take action on the basis of the inspection team report.”
{{/usCountry}}Acting on the report, SGPC additional secretary Simarjit Singh brought the matter to the notice of Akal Takht jathedar Giani Gurbanchan Singh on December 24. Replying to SGPC additional secretary’s letter, Sukhdev Singh, office in-charge of the Akal Takht said: “As per the direction of the Akal Takht jathether, take action on the basis of the inspection team report.”
{{/usCountry}}On December 31, additional secretary of dharam parchar wing Sukhdev Singh Bhoora wrote to Tarn Taran SSP: “The inspection team of the SGPC have found that ‘mazar’ managers have demolished the outer wall of the gurdwara that has hurt Sikh sentiments. As per directions of the Akal Takht jathedar, you should action on the basis of the inspection report.”
Khalsa said when police did not take the matter seriously; the SGPC assigned me the duty to get the “controversial” building demolished.
Talking to HT, Sikh preacher Sukhpreet Singh, one of those who have been booked for demolition, claimed, “The building which was demolished was a ‘khandar’ (uninhabited) few years ago. There is no proof that the area was a religious place ever. Few years ago, some persons converted it into a ‘mazar’ and now are making efforts to extend their area by building more ‘mazars’.”
“The Sikh devotees of the village have been opposing their move since long”, he said, adding that police have falsely booked innocent youth in the case.