In a shocking incident fomenting trouble in the border state of Punjab, four masked men allegedly vandalized a church in Thakarpura village of Patti town close to the Indo-Pak border in Tarn Taran district. Condemning the incident, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday ordered a probe into the desecration and fire incident, declaring that nobody will be allowed to disturb brotherhood and harmony in the state.
The incident, which reportedly took place on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday, came a day after the Akal Takht Jathedar (head priest) Giani Harpreet Singh and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami condemned alleged efforts being made in Punjab for religious conversions by “some so-called Christian missionaries”.
They also demanded the withdrawal of an FIR against some Nihang Sikhs who were booked for allegedly disrupting an event organised by Christian missionaries at Daduana village in Amritsar on Monday.
As the CCTV cameras, installed inside the church, captured the entire incident, the four masked men were seen entering the church building, and then pointing a pistol at the watchman’s head. They also tied up the watchman’s hands before vandalising the church. They broke two idols and also burnt the pastor’s car before leaving.
Following the incident, a police team, led by Tarn Taran Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) reached the spot to take stock of the situation. To further avert any trouble, heavy police deployment has been made in the area.
A case has been registered in the matter and efforts are on to arrest those behind the incident, said SSP Dhillon.
A group of Christians held a protest against the vandalization of the church and blocked all routes leading to Khemkaran, Bhikhiwind, Patti, Harike, and Ferozepur. The protesters demanded the immediate arrest of the accused.
SSP Dhillon, who reached the protest site, assured the agitators that the culprits will be arrested soon. “It is a conspiracy by some mischievous elements who wanted to disturb peace in the state,” said the SSP.
“We have taken stock of the situation and are investigating the matter. We will soon catch those who were behind this incident,” he added.
CM orders probe
Ordering a probe into the incident, Chief Minister Mann said that strict action will be taken against those involved in it. “This is a highly condemnable incident and severest of severe action must be taken against the perpetrators of this heinous crime,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that he has directed the state Director General of Police (DGP) to minutely probe into this unpardonable incident. “This incident is a handiwork of the forces inimical to the peace, prosperity, and progress of the state...This unfortunate tragedy is aimed at vitiating the state’s peaceful atmosphere and derailing communal harmony and brotherhood in Punjab,” he added.
At the same time, the Chief Minister said that the State Government will not allow any such nefarious attempt to succeed. He said that the State Government will foil all such conspiracies and take strict punitive action against culprits so that it acts as a deterrent for others in the future. Condemning the incident, the Chief Minister unequivocally said that the Government will leave no stone unturned to put the perpetrators of this heinous crime behind the bars.
“I have already issued directions to the Police for a thorough investigation of the case in a prompt and result-oriented manner,” he said while categorically adding that the State Government is committed to make Punjab a peaceful and frontrunner state in the country and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause.
Pages of 'Gutka Sahib' found scattered in Phagwara
In another incident, pages of the Sikhs’ religious book, Gutka Sahib, were found scattered near the old civil hospital building in Phagwara, following which the Police has registered a case on Wednesday. Some sweepers found the pages of 'Gutka Sahib' scattered under a tree near the old civil hospital’s abandoned building, said the police, adding that a case under relevant sections, including 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered against unknown persons. Station House Officer (city) Amandeep Nahar said that they were scanning the CCTV footage of the area to trace those who carried out the “sacrilege” incident. The culprits will be arrested soon, he added.
Cong expresses concern over sacrilege incidents
Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday expressed grave concern over the incidents of violence and arson in the villages of Thakkarpura and Daudana in Tarn Taran and Amritsar districts respectively.
The state Congress president appealed for restraint, peace, and harmony while at the same time warning that Punjab cannot afford communal polarization and sectarian divide. He condemned the incident of arson in the village Takhatpura saying that violence was not acceptable and nobody should be allowed to take law into his own hands.
Warring also appealed to the Akal Takhat Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to lead the peace initiative among different communities.
“The Congress party is strongly opposed to religious exploitation of people in the name of poverty and illiteracy,” he said while appreciating the concerns of the Akal Takhat Jathedar about certain vested interests trying to exploit the situation.
At the same time, Warring said that the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee also needs to introspect. “It is straightway the failure of the SGPC and its Dharam Prachar Committee that people are turning away or are being lured away from Sikhism...As a devout and staunch follower of Sikhism, which preaches equality in letter and spirit, I am shocked that how can people leave this great religion,” he said while urging the SGPC to do serious introspection and step in before it is too late.