Torn pages of ‘bir’ found in Punjab gurdwara; triggers political uproar

HOSHIARPUR: A few pages of a "bir" of Guru Granth Sahib were found torn in a gurdwara in Nurpur Jattan village in Hoshiarpur district on Thursday evening.
A function related to antim ardas (last prayers) of a village resident in the gurdwara concluded around 1.30pm on Thursday. "Family members, relatives, and others were in the gurdwara till around 3pm having food or meeting one another, as is the usual routine in such functions. When the gurdwara granthi, Tehal Singh, came for the daily evening recitation of gurbani, he found that 15 pages were torn, apparently pulled out with hands," said local Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee member Surinder Singh Bhullewal Rathan, who visited the gurdwara after getting the information.
He said that the gurdwara committee informed the police. CCTV cameras in the gurdwara were found non-functional.
Reacting to the incident, officiating Akal Takht jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj said that the Punjab govt has failed to prevent incidents of desecration and punish the guilty.
He said that an investigation team was sent to the spot, led by Takht Kesgarh Sahib head granthi Giani Joginder Singh, panj piaras, additional manager Hardev Singh, and sub-office in-charge Gurbhag Singh. According to preliminary information, the gurdwara did not have adequate camera or security arrangements, indicating negligence on part of the management committee.
He said that if the government ensured strict punishment in previous cases of desecration, such mischievous elements would not dare to commit such acts again.
Jathedar Gargaj asked the Sikh sangat (community) to ensure round-the-clock vigilance and installation of surveillance cameras in all gurdwaras. He expressed concern that despite repeated appeals from Akal Takht and the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), proper camera systems and continuous security measures were not being implemented by some gurdwara management.