Woman facing trial for sacrilege shot

Charanjit Singh Teja

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, July 26

Balwinder Kaur, 47, a resident of Ghawaddi village, was shot dead by two men on a motorcycle in Alamgir village this morning. Arrested for allegedly desecrating Guru Granth Sahib on October 19, 2015, she was out on bail.

Police officials said the suspects called up the victim this morning, asking her to reach Gurdwara Alamgir Sahib. Balwinder, accompanied by her son Ranjodh Singh, reached there in an autorickshaw at 7.45 am.

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A man came and sat in the auto while Balwinder Kaur and her son were engaged in a conversation. Another man arrived there and asked Ranjodh Singh if the auto was going any further.

As the latter replied in the negative, the man in a chola (traditional Sikh dress), pulled out a pistol and opened fire point blank. Balwinder Kaur, who was hit in the chest, died on the spot. The attackers fled.

On Ranjodh Singh's complaint, the police has registered a case under Sections 302 and 34 of the IPC and 25/27 of the Arms Act.

Surinder Mohan, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Sadar (Gill) said, “We have obtained the CCTV footage from nearby establishments. With the help of the Intelligence wing, the assailants have been identified as Gurpreet Singh of Jogewala village in Sangrur district and Nihal Singh of Patiala. They will be arrested soon."

Balwinder Kaur was arrested for the alleged sacrilege at the Ghawaddi gurdwara where she had been working for more than two decades.