ZIRA, Punjab—In an unfortunate incident, ten saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib were burnt at village Behak Fattu near Zira. The incident allegedly took place due to short circuit in electric wiring. The granthi Singh was absent from him duties when the incident took place.

After speaking with local villagers, Sikh24 learned that an electrician had repaired a fan in the Gurdwara Sahib on morning of April 29. As the appointed Granthi was suspended recently from his services by the village Panchayat, no one was at the Gurdwara Sahib when the incident took place.

Deputy Commissioner DPS Kharbanda, SSP Manminder Singh, along with other senior officials immediately rushed to the Gurdwara. After collecting preliminary reports about the incident, Deputy Commissioner DPS Kharbanda ruled out the possibility of foul play behind the incident. “It was clear to me that this incident is not a result of foul-play, rather a short circuit,” he said.

“Villages feel that it could be a result of foul-play, hence we have registered an FIR against unidentified miscreants,” he added.

That saroops that were damaged have been sent to Goindwal Sahib for cremation. Police officials accompanied the local Sikh sangat in transporting the saroops to Goindwal Sahib. Local sangat in large numbers recited Sri Sukhmani Sahib and performed Ardas upon reaching Sri Goindwal Sahib.

Provincial Akali MLA Hari Singh Zira has sought an investigation into the case.

Bhai Sukhjit Singh Khose of Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee said, “This is utterly disgusting and saddening. Either our Gurdwaras are not equipped to take care of Guru Granth Sahib saroops, or we are being fooled about short circuits.” He questioned why short circuits take place only at Gurdwaras and not other places.

Bhai Khose stated that there could be a controversy over the short circuit at the Gurdwara and no incident involving sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib should be treated loosely.