40 torn religious books found in Tarn Taran village

Our Correspondent

Tarn Taran, November 5

Over 40 torn ‘gutkas’ (Sikh religious books) were found scattered on the Tarn Taran-Jandiala Guru Road near Mallhia village here today.

The situation became tense in the village as soon as the news spread like wildfire. A number of activists of radical Sikh organisations reached the spot and blocked the Tarn Taran-Jandiala road.

Deputy Commissioner Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal, along with other administrative officials, reached the spot and tried to pacify the agitating Sikh activists. However, they refused to relent and continued with the dharna.

The Sikh Sangat, who gathered in huge numbers, collected the torn pages of Gutkas and put these in a Palki Sahib. The incident came to light when milkman Gobinder Singh, a resident of the nearby Bagrian village, noticed the torn pages on the road side. He brought the matter to the notice of his friend Gurmit Singh.

According to administrative officials, some mischievous elements tore the pages of Gutkas, put these in 40 polythene bags and placed these at different places on the road.

Sikh organisations, led by former Lok Sabha member Dhian Singh Mand, Satnam Singh Manavan and other leaders, held talks with the administration and demanded that the guilty should be punished.