Drunk man sets holy book afire, arrested

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, May 23

The Amritsar rural police have arrested a person, Sarabjit Singh of Manawala, for allegedly setting a Gutka (holy book) on fire and thereby hurting the sentiments of people.

Complainant Karam Singh, a resident of Manawala, said he was at home yesterday when he received a call from Harjit Singh and Satnam Singh, priest (granthi) of a local gurdwara. They said a boy came to the shrine with a Gutka Sahib and asked priest’s daughter Harjit Kaur to keep the same at the gurdwara. When she asked him to send the person who had given the Gutka Sahib, the boy left. Later, residents found Sarabjit setting the Gutka afire.

Investigating officer Surjit Singh said Sarabjit was drunk and he had a quarrel with his wife. His wife was reciting the Sukhmani Sahib. Angered over this, he snatched the holy book and went away. Later, he asked a boy to hand over the same to the gurdwara. However, when Harjit Kaur did not accept the same, he set it on fire near a tree on the road side.

A passer by captured the incident using his mobile phone and informed members of the gurdwara committee. They lodged a complaint with the police. Surjit said the accused was arrested from Daburji bus stand. He was produced in the court and sent to judicial remand, he added.

The Manawala police have registered a case under Section 295 of the Indian Penal Code against him.