Even as the Christian community squarely blamed the RSS for the targeting of minority in Punjab amidst the raging demand by the Sikh hardliners to implement anti-conversion law, the Punjab Government on Friday ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the IG-level officer to look into the church vandalization incident in Tarn Taran’s border village.
The State Government’s decision to set up the SIT coincided with the filing of the petition before the Punjab and Haryana High Court seeking directions for protecting the churches and the minority in the State.
At the same time, the Government is reviewing the security around all the religious places, including Gurudwaras, churches, across the State, which is currently on edge following the tension prevailing between the two religious communities — the Sikhs and the Christians.
It may be recalled that a church was vandalised by four masked men in Thakarpura village of Patti town in Tarn Taran district on the intervening night of Tuesday and Wednesday (August 30-31). As per the CCTV cameras footage procured, the masked men were seen entering the church building, and then pointing a pistol at the watchman’s head, tying his hands before vandalising the church. They also broke two idols, including one of Jesus and Mary, and also burnt the pastor’s car before leaving.
Acting swiftly, the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had ordered a probe saying that no one will be allowed to disturb brotherhood and harmony in the State.
The incident came a day after the Akal Takht Jathedar and Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) president Harjinder Singh Dhami had condemned alleged efforts being made in Punjab for “forced” religious conversions by “some so-called Christian missionaries”.
They had 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 Sunday.
Govt’s failure
“All this would not have happened if the Government had taken any action after the Sunday’s event when Nihangs entered a prayer meeting, brandishing swords, creating a wave of fear among everyone present at the event, including women and small kids,” said the National Christian League president Jagdish Masih while talking with The Pioneer. “The government failed to provide any security to us, to our churches,” said Masih, who has also moved the High Court on Friday seeking security for all the churches in state, besides seeking protection of property, including “religious statues” of Jesus Christ, from being damaged and further to protect the minority community of Christians “in view of prevailing out-of-control law and order situation”.
Christians move HC
In the petition, Masih argued that these steps were required “in the interest of justice” following the incident of violence, burning, and damaging of the churches in Tarn Taran district and elsewhere. “It was completely the Government’s failure...They should have acted right after the Sunday incident...We want our people, our institutions, our property to be protected...As government has not done anything yet, we decided to approach the courts,” Masih said.
The petition, expected to be taken up for hearing on Monday, stated that the State, at present, was burning as certain anti-social elements and the statement regarding forcible conversions in the border districts of the State had “further added oil to this highly sensitive issue, in which involvement of certain international agencies could not be ruled out”.
“No forced conversions”
Categorically denying the Sikh leaders’ allegations of “forced conversions”, Masih argued that they are making the issue out of nothing, and it is the Constitution that provides “choice of religion” to everyone. “There’s nothing like that! They are making issues like this to foment trouble. Our constitution provides us the right to choose our religion. If people are converting to Christianity, it is out of choice, and there is no force or greed of any kind,” he argued when asked about the demand of anti-conversion law.
Notably, Sikh organisations, including the SGPC — popularly known as Sikhs’ mini parliament, has all along been apprehending attempts by the Christian missionaries of forced religious conversions, especially in the state’s border districts.
Demand for anti-conversion law gains momentum
Following the recent developments, the demand to have an anti-conversion law in Punjab, led by the Akal Takht Jathedar, is gaining momentum. At the same time, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD)-led SGPC is also being criticised for its failure in the preaching of Sikhism, and retaining the people in the Sikh fold.
Amidst the demand for the law, Punjab Cabinet’s senior Minister Harpal Singh Cheema insisted that there was “no need to bring an anti-conversion bill in Punjab”. He argued that Punjab is a secular state. “It is the land of Gurus and there has not been a riot. Strict action will be taken against the culprits. Everyone is free to practice any religion. But no one should be coerced,” he added.
A senior SGPC official, who did not wish to be named, said that the organisation has been working actively but silently to stop conversion. The SGPC official claimed that they have succeeded in bringing back to the Sikh fold some of the “converted families” back to the Sikh fold.
At the same time, Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC), which manages the Gurudwaras in the national capital, had recently claimed that 12 Sikh families in Punjab, “converted to Christianity”, have returned to Sikhism.
Of late, DSGMC president Harmeet Singh Kalka had alleged that certain religious institutions in Punjab are “luring” poor Sikhs by “falsely promising” to provide education and financial help to them, and “converting them”.
Along with SGPC, DSGMC is also conducting religious campaigns in various villages across Punjab. It has launched a religious awareness campaign, ‘Dharam Jagrukta Lehar’, in Amritsar.
Security reviewed at religious places across State
Punjab Government is carrying out the review of security around religious places following the Tarn Taran incident. “In the wake of the desecration of idols in a church in Tarn Taran, police personnel have been directed to review the security situation at religious places across the state. Our teams are working in this regard,” said the state Additional Director General of Police (ADGP), Law and Order, Arpit Shukla.
According to Tarn Taran SSP RS Dhillon, an FIR has been registered in this connection and an investigation has been taken up, and the police has obtained “vital clues” and hopes to solve the case soon. “A few notorious elements attempted to vandalise the statue of Jesus and set ablaze a car at the church in Patti. We are investigating the matter and have vital clues. There were four people and we are behind the culprits. We hope to solve it soon. An FIR has been lodged,” he said.
Govt constitutes SIT under Ferozepur Range IG
A three-member Special Investigation Team, headed by the Ferozepur Range Inspector General of Police (IGP), will probe the vandalism and desecration at a church in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district to ensure effective and speedy investigation.
The SIT will also include Tarn Taran SSP and the SP (Investigation) as members, said Bureau of Investigation director B Chandra Sekhar, adding that it will ensure effective and speedy investigation into the incident that took place late on Tuesday night at Takkarpura village near Patti town in the border district.
SSP Ranjit Singh Dhillon had termed the incident of church vandalization as “a conspiracy by some mischievous elements who want to disturb the peace” in the state.
DGP Gaurav Yadav said that the SIT will conduct a day-to-day investigation into the case and submit a final report in the competent court at the earliest. The SIT can also co-opt any other officer or official for assistance in the investigation of the case, he added.
The DGP said that besides maintaining law and order, the Punjab Police is committed to maintaining a peaceful atmosphere and communal harmony in state. He said that police teams are investigating the case from all angles and strict punitive action against them will be ensured.
Earlier, while terming the incident as “unpardonable”, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had directed the DGP to get it probed and said “severest action must be taken against the perpetrators of this heinous crime”.
Indicates worsening of law and order in Punjab: Congress
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and the Leader of the Opposition in Vidhan Sabha Partap Singh Bajwa on Friday criticised the Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann Government for its utter failure to prevent incidents of vandalism occurring at the places of worship in the state. Congress leaders, who visited the church in Thakarpura village in Patti along with former Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni, MP Jasbir Singh Dimpa, and former MLA Harminder Singh Gill, said that it was a serious law and order lapse on the part of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann who also held the portfolio for Home Affairs and Justice.