A 19-year-old man, identified as Bakshish Singh, from Talli Gulam village, has been killed in an attack after allegedly committing sacrilege at a gurdwara in Bandala village of Ferozepur district in Punjab. According to police officials, the incident occurred when Bakshish allegedly tore some pages of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of Sikhs, after entering the gurdwara premises. Witness accounts indicate that Bakshish attempted to flee but was apprehended by individuals present at the site. As news of the alleged sacrilege incident spread, villagers gathered at the gurdwara and severely beat Bakshish, resulting in his untimely death due to the sustained injuries.
Lakhwinder Singh, the father of the deceased, has stated that his son Bakshish suffered from a mental illness and was undergoing treatment. He implored the authorities to initiate an investigation and hold accountable those responsible for his son’s death. The police have registered a First Information Report (FIR) against Bakshish under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings or beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code.
Senior police officials, including Senior Superintendent of Police Saumya Mishra, have visited the scene to ascertain the details of the incident. Police authorities have also registered an FIR at the Arif Ke Police Station based on a complaint filed by Lakhvir Singh, chairman of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee.
Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh has expressed deep sorrow over the sacrilege incident and has denounced the failure of authorities to punish the perpetrators of such heinous acts in the past. He has appealed to the Sikh community to socially and religiously boycott the family of the accused involved in the sacrilege and to deny them the right to perform last rites at any gurdwara.
The Jathedar has emphasized that the repeated incidents of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib are part of a well-planned conspiracy and has criticized the government for its ineffective laws that have failed to prevent such occurrences or bring the perpetrators to justice. He stressed that the incident in Ferozepur has deeply wounded the sentiments of Sikhs and that there is nothing more sacred to them than the Guru Granth Sahib.
