Chandigarh: Police have arrested the main accused in a sacrilege case involving gutka sahib in Barnala, saying the act was allegedly carried out due to personal animosity towards the village gurdwara committee.
The incident was reported from Thikriwala village, where pages of gutka sahib were found scattered. Police said the prime accused, Kuldeep Singh, allegedly got the act carried out through his nephew and another relative. The nephew, police said, is speech and hearing impaired.
Police had earlier arrested the two alleged executors after CCTV footage showed them scattering the gutka sahib. Villagers had staged a protest demanding registration of an FIR, following which the case was formally taken up.
The three arrested accused have been identified as Kuldeep Singh, Jagvir Singh and Randeep Singh. Deputy superintendent of police Satveer Singh Bains said Jagvir Singh’s uncle, Kuldeep Singh, was the only person who could communicate with and influence him.
Police said Kuldeep Singh is a member of the village cooperative society. According to investigators, tensions arose after the gurdwara committee recently honoured its members, but Kuldeep Singh was not included, which allegedly led to resentment.
Police also said Kuldeep Singh is known to be associated with the Congress and has been seen at party meetings. Photographs purportedly showing him with Congress MP and former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi have surfaced. However, the Indian National Congress has not issued any statement on the matter so far.
Police said further investigation is underway and appropriate legal action will be taken based on evidence collected in the case.
