Guru Granth Sahib Desecration in J&K; Clash at Rajasthan Gurdwara

Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) police have arrested Manjit Singh alias Billa from Koulpur village in Samba district for allegedly desecrating multiple copies of the Guru Granth Sahib (Sikh charter) at the local Gurdwara Singh Sabha. Manjit set fire to the sacred scriptures using an inflammable substance late on 7 Oct night, prompting widespread protests from the Sikh community. Sri Akal Takht Sahib (Eternal Throne, AT) acting Jathedar (leader) Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj rushed to the site of the incident and met the local Sikh community. He announced a lifetime ban on all the office-bearers and members of the management committee of the Gurdwara. Senior civil and police officers, including Samba Deputy Commissioner Ayushi Sudan and Deputy Inspector General of Police of Jammu-Samba-Kathua Range Shiv Kumar Sharma, were present at the Gurdwara during the Jathedar’s visit. According to the Jathedar, five saroops (tomes) of the scripture were set on fire. 'Four saroops were destroyed completely, while one was partially damaged by the heat. Three people were involved. Police have arrested one and must produce the other two.' Following the incident, local Sikh residents set fire to Manjit’s house and later demolished it using bulldozers. Giani Gargajj said no action should be taken against those who have demolished Manjit’s home. Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (Sikh body) president Harjinder Singh Dhami has condemned the desecration. In the last decade, desecration of Sikh scriptures were confined to Panjab but now they are spreading outside the state. Since the 2015 desecration incident and firing in Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura on protesters, Panjab has not solved the cases. The frustration with the judicial system pushes the community to take law in its hands by way of instant justice. Advocate Harvinder Singh Phoolka recently informed that the Punjab and Haryana High Court has transferred some desecration cases out of Panjab. The Panjab government has not even filed an appeal that the cases must be tried in the state. Concurrently, on 3 Oct, Gurdwara Mehtabgarh Sahib at Mandi Goluwala in Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan became a site of clash between two Sikh groups. The SGPC has condemned the incident (earlier coverage).