SGPC sends teams to Poonch to shift Guru Granth Sahib to safer place

Keeping in view the tense situation between India and Pakistan, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has sent teams to the gurdwara in Poonch, which was hit during Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling, to shift ‘Guru Granth Sahib’ to a safer place here. Meanwhile, the SGPC officials visited the injured Sikhs from Poonch who have been admitted to a hospital in Amritsar.

SGPC secretary Partap Singh and Golden Temple manager Rajinder Singh Ruby expressed their sympathy with Gurmeet Singh and his son Rajvansh Singh, who were undergoing treatment at the hospital. Partap Singh said that the victims left from Poonch for Jammu when the vehicle they were travelling in was attacked. As a result, a Sikh lost his life while Gurmeet Singh, his son Rajvansh Singh and other family members sustained serious injuries. Gurmeet Singh and Rajvansh Singh were admitted to a private hospital in Amritsar, where they are currently receiving medical care.

“The SGPC stands with humanity in times of distress and is completely fulfilling its responsibility even under the current circumstances. They will be given any kind of aid,” he said. The Akal Takht and the SGPC have strongly condemned Pakistan’s retaliatory shelling in Poonch, where civilians, including Sikhs, were killed and the central Gurdwara Sri Guru Singh Sabha was hit.

Three Gursikhs were killed —- Amrik Singh (a raagi), Amarjeet Singh (retired army soldier) and Ranjit Singh (local shopkeeper). Additionally, reports have emerged of a Sikh woman named Ruby Kaur being killed in the Mankote area. Other civilian casualties in Poonch have also come to light. Partap Singh said that the SGPC has sent a special vehicle to Poonch to bring the holy ‘saroops’ from the damaged gurdwara. “We will also safely relocate the ‘saroops’ from other gurdwaras over there,” he said.

Meanwhile, special arrangements for shelter and meals have been made at nearby gurdwaras for people, if they are displaced from border areas. Additionally, sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib are also being safely relocated from evacuated village gurdwaras. “We appeal to the residents of border areas to contact their nearest historic gurdwaras under the SGPC management, if they require assistance,” he said.