A distressing incident unfolded in the Mohalgarh village of Patiala district, where a sacrilege act took place within the premises of Gurdwara Sahib. Villagers were deeply alarmed when they learned that an individual had allegedly torn pages from the sacred Shri Guru Granth Sahib and then set them on fire.
According to the police, the incident occurred around 2 pm on a Thursday. The accused, identified as Harpreet Singh, also known as Happy and a resident of Mohalgarh village, was responsible for tearing the pages of Shri Guru Granth Sahib. Subsequently, he ignited the sacred pages, leading to a fire that affected some of the Gurdwara’s possessions, including a mattress.
The police acted swiftly, arresting Harpreet Singh and charging him under sections 295 (injuring a place of worship with intent to insult), 295 A (outraging religious feelings), 297 (trespassing), and 120 B (criminal conspiracy). Notably, a Gurdwara priest is also facing charges under the same sections for alleged negligence.
The incident occurred on a day when a wedding took place at the Gurdwara Sahib. After the marriage ceremony and prayers before Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the congregation left for celebrations at a venue in Ambala. The Gurdwara priest, Balvir Singh, also joined the celebrations. Unfortunately, no one noticed that Harpreet Singh had been left behind alone. CCTV footage revealed how he tore and set fire to the pages before leaving the Gurdwara, locking the doors from the outside. It was only a few hours later that village women returning for prayers discovered the smoke-filled hall and raised the alarm.
Joga Singh, the Sarpanch of Mohalgarh village, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and called for strict punishment for the accused. He highlighted the need for a thorough investigation to bring the real culprits and conspirators to justice.
SGPC member JS Lacchru echoed these sentiments, noting that besides the pages of Shri Guru Granth Sahib, the Paalki Sahib and Rumala Sahib were also affected. He urged a comprehensive investigation and the prosecution of those responsible.
Malkit Singh, a villager, explained that there is no formal Gurdwara committee in place. In the past, the village had two Gurdwaras, but they were merged into a single Gurdwara serving mainly the refugees who settled there after the 1947 partition.
Inspector Kulwinder Singh, SHO Julkan, confirmed that the accused, Harpreet Singh, has been apprehended and is currently being interrogated. A case of negligence has been registered against the Gurdwara priest, Balvir Singh, for leaving the premises without taking necessary precautions. Further investigations are ongoing, and a police presence has been deployed in the village as a precautionary measure.
