Sikh scripture damaged in fire at Phillaur gurdwara

A late-night fire at a gurdwara dedicated to Guru Ravidass caused damage to a holy scripture (Pawan Saroop) here, hurting sentiments of the Sikh community. Religious bodies have called for a thorough and impartial investigation.

Tarna Dal’s Nihang Singh said the fire broke out at the gurdwara located in Aneer village late at night. He stated that he received information about the incident early in the morning, after which he rushed to the site to assess the situation. By the time people gathered, the fire had already caused irreparable damage to the sacred scripture.

Preliminary findings by the police suggest that the fire may have been caused due to a short-circuit, which led to the blaze inside the sanctum. However, Nihang Singh expressed serious concern over possible negligence. He said a nagar kirtan had been organised at the gurdwara just two days ago, raising questions about post-event safety and supervision.

Further suspicion arose during the inspection when a burnt matchstick near incense sticks was reportedly found close to Pawan Saroop. This discovery has deepened doubts and highlighted the need for a meticulous probe. Nihang Singh appealed to the villagers to cooperate fully with the police and to come forward with the truth to ensure a fair and transparent investigation.

DSP, Phillaur, Bharat Masih confirmed that the incident was reported late at night. Upon reaching the spot, the police, with the help of local residents, managed to bring the fire under control in time, preventing further damage to the gurdwara’s structure. However, the sacred scripture could not be saved and was completely burnt in the incident, he said.

He said an investigation was under way.