AMRITSAR SAHIB, Punjab—Considering the complaint from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) officials, the Punjab Police registered two FIRs against the Sikh agitators but spared the SGPC staffers who assaulted them in an attempt to remove morcha over missing Guru Granth Sahib’s saroops from the outskirt of the premises of Sri Harmandir Sahib (Darbar Sahib) here and outside the headquarters of the gurdwara body.
As many as six Sikh activists including a woman—Sukhjit Singh Khose, Dilbagh Singh, Manjit Singh Chabhal, Balbir Singh Muchhal, Manjit Kaur and Lakhbir Singh—who were leading the morcha, were booked by Police under various sections 307 (attempt to murder), 452 (assault), 148 (rioting), 149 (unlawful assembly) of the IPC. The complaint was lodged by Mahinder Singh Ahli, secretary of the SGPC.
To demand criminal cases against the SGPC staffers guilty of misappropriation that led to 328 Guru Granth Sahib’s saroops going missing, and clarification on whereabouts of the missing saroops, the morcha was continuing since September 14 and it was rooted out by the SGPC task force on October 24 forcibly.
The SGPC task force publicly dragged and thrashed the Sikh agitators mercilessly but the FIR states that the accused forcibly occupied the office and attacked the SGPC officials and employees to kill and injure them.
The Police took no action on the complaint lodged from the side of the agitators. The Police officials said they did not receive any complaint.
Another FIR was registered against Khose and 30/40 unknown persons allegedly attacking an SUV carrying SGPC officials. However, Khose is nowhere to be seen among the attackers in a video clip which has gone viral over social media. It was registered under section 341 (wrongful restraint), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt), 427 (causing damage), 148 (Rioting) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the IPC in Police Station (B-Division).
Besides thrashing the Sikh activists, the SGPC also made them captive for more than five hours. More than 12 Sikh activists were injured in this attack. Two SGPC staffers were also injured when the agitators used the kirpan and other sharp edged weapons in self-defense.
“Attack on members of Satkar Committee staging protest outside the SGPC office against the misappropriation of 328 Saroops of Guru Granth Sahib and demanding action against the SGPC employees involved in the incident from last 40 days approximately is highly deplorable and Jathedar Sri Akal Takht Sahib must take strict action against the culprits” said AAP MLA Kultar Singh Sandhwan during his visit to Civil Hospital Amritsar to meet the injured persons.
The Kotkapura legislator said that the reckless attitude and violent behaviour of the SGPC officials towards the protesters and the media fraternity is an insult to the entire Sikh community. SGPC which was meant to be the organisation that took care of the Sikh community’s interests is now being controlled by Akali Dal under the patronage of Parkash Badal and his son who are using the prestigious Sikh organization for political and financial gains.
