SIT report on Golden Temple sacrilege bid in 2 days: Deputy CM

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 19

A day after a man was allegedly beaten to death for trying to commit sacrilege at the Golden Temple, the Punjab Government on Sunday set up a special investigation team that will file a report within two days.

Dead Suspect booked for murder attempt

• The police have booked deceased ‘sacrilege’ suspect for attempt to murder as Guru Granth Sahib is considered a living entity

Security beefed up at Golden Temple

• The SGPC has beefed up security at Golden Temple
• It is learnt SGPC may have intelligence wing of its own

Plot to create unrest

It’s a deep-rooted conspiracy by central agencies to vitiate atmosphere in Punjab by creating communal conflict. — SS Randhawa, Deputy CM

Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the SIT would be headed by DCP (Law and Order) Parminder Singh Bhandal. “The suspect is yet to be identified,” Randhawa, who holds the Home portfolio, said.

The Deputy Chief Minister met senior officers, including IG (Border Range) Mohnish Chawla, Police Commissioner Sukhchain Singh Gill, DC Gurpreet Singh Khaira and SSP (Rural) Rakesh Kaushal, as well as SGPC officials Rajinder Singh Mehta, Harjap Singh and Sukhdev Singh Bhurakona to discuss additional security measures in the vicinity of the Golden Temple.

The police have, meanwhile, filed a case under Section 307 for murder bid (Guru Granth Sahib is considered a living entity) and Section 295-A for hurting religious sentiments. Randhawa pitched for severe punishment for acts of sacrilege, pointing out that the Punjab Assembly had passed Bills in 2018 proposing amendments to the IPC and CrPC to make desecration of religious texts punishable with life imprisonment.