News Brief
Punjab: Youth Beaten To Death Over Alleged Sacrilege At Gurdwara, Akal Takht Jathedar Calls For Social Boycott Of Victim's Family
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A tragic incident unfolded in Punjab's Ferozepur where a 19-year-old man was lynched to death over alleged sacrilege at a Gurdwara.
The young man, Bakshish Singh, allegedly tore pages of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikhs, at a gurdwara in Bandala village.
In response, an enraged crowd captured and violently beat him, leading to his death, as per a report by NDTV.
A case has been filed against Bakshish Singh for the sacrilege.
According to his father, Lakhwinder Singh, Bakshish was mentally challenged and had been receiving medication for the past two years.
Lakhwinder Singh is calling for a case to be registered against those responsible for his son's death.
Interestingly, locals claim that Bakshish had never visited the gurdwara before the incident.
A video from the sited shows Bakshish sitting with his hands tied, surrounded by men, bleeding. Despite being taken to a private hospital by the police, Bakshish succumbed to his injuries.
DSP Singh stated that the situation is now under control. However, Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh expressed dissatisfaction with the law's effectiveness in preventing sacrilege incidents.
He described Bakshish's death as a consequence of the authorities' failure to punish offenders.
In a strong statement, the Jathedar of the Akal Takht called on the Sikh community not to allow his last rites at any gurdwara and socially and religiously boycott his family.
He said people are forced to seek justice on their own when the rule of law "fails miserably in performing its duty".
