A day after Amritsar incident, man beaten to death over alleged sacrilege at Kapurthala; CM Channi reaches Golden Temple, expresses anguish

SGT Times Reporter

Chandigarh, December 19

A day after a man was beaten to death over sacrilege at Golden Temple in Amritsar, another youth was lynched over allegations of sacrilege at a Gurdwara in Nizampur village of Kapurthala today.

Jalandhar Range Inspector General GS Dhillon, however, denied allegations of sacrilege.

He said at a press conference on Sunday evening that preliminary reports suggested it was an attempted theft because everything in gurdwara lay intact. He said police had booked some unknown under Section 305 (abetment of suicide of child or insane person) of the Indian Penal Code and that charges of murder (Section 302) will be added after verification.

A man was beaten to death in Nizampur village after some villagers accused him of disrespecting the ‘Nishan Sahib’ (Sikh religious flag) at a gurdwara here on Sunday morning. Local residents claimed they caught him as he tried to run away.

Police said that the man was beaten to death.

This is the second incident of lynching in Punjab in two days.

Today’s incident came a day after a man was beaten to death at the Golden Temple for attempted sacrilege. The man, whose identity is still not clear, jumped over the railings at the sanctum sanctorum and sprinted toward the ‘Saroop’ (copy) of the Guru Granth sahib but was caught before he could defile it, officials said.

Police have booked the man, who died soon after the assault, for attempted murder (because the Guru Granth Sahib is considered a living entity) and outraging religious sentiments under the Indian Penal Code.

Punjab’s Director General of Police Siddharth Chattopadhyaya today said his department had taken note of both incidents.

“I have taken serious note of the unfortunate incidents in Amritsar and Kapurthala. Any attempt to violate the communal harmony in the state will be dealt with a firm hand. Stern action will be taken against all those disturbing the law and order in Punjab #PunjabStandsTogether,” the DGP’s tweet said on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi reached Golden Temple and paid obeisance at Darbar Sahib today.

Expressing deep anguish over the unfortunate incident to attempt sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the sanctum-sanctorum of Sri Darbar Sahib last evening, Channi reiterated his government’s firm commitment to thoroughly probe into the entire matter to get into the bottom of the case to unmask the real conspirators behind this distortedly act.

Talking to the media persons here after paying obeisance at the Sri Darbar Sahib, the CM Channi described it as the most heinous act, which has not only hurt religious sentiments but also tormented our hearts, which should be condemned with the harshest possible words by one and all. The Chief Minister also exhorted the people to keep restraint during the prevailing sensitive situation by demonstrating their unflinching trust in the ethos of peace, harmony, brotherhood, and religious tolerance.

Meanwhile, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa who holds the home portfolio, today said that a Special Investigation Team under DCP Law & Order had been constituted, which would present an investigation report within two days.