Posted: 04 Aug 2016
LUDHIANA, Punjab—Two Sikh youths, namely Bhai Gurpreet Singh and Bhai Nihal Singh, arrested in the murder cases related to Guru Granth Sahib sacrilege were produced before the Court of Judge Lovejinder Kaur on August 3. Both had surrendered in front of the police in relation to the murder of Balwinder Kaur, who was responsible for desecrating Holy Scripture of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji in Ghawaddi village last year in October 2015.
Appearing before the Court, the prosecution lawyer demanded 7 days police remand of the duo Sikh youth by arguing that police has recovered arms and other details of funds available to these Sikh youths from abroad. Sharply reacting to the demand of the prosecution lawyer, the defence lawyers ruled out the possibility of financial aid from abroad to these Sikh youths. Defence lawyer Bhai Jaspal Singh Manjhpur pleaded the Court for daily medical check-up of the Sikh youths as the police were committing excessive torture on them. Accepting the request of defence lawyer, Judge Lovejinder Kaur ordered for daily medical check-up and also allowed the defence lawyer to daily meet the Sikh youths during police remand.
Meanwhile, the police have made three more arrests in the case. Namely, Harbans Singh, Gurwinder Singh and Jagjit Singh has been arrested. The police have indicted the trio under provisions of UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) by accusing them of receiving funds from abroad to commit unlawful action in Punjab. They were also sent on Police remand till August 7.
After the court appearance, large number of activists showered flower petals on Bhai Gurpreet Singh and Bhai Nihal Singh to manifest appreciation of their sacrifice. Janmohan Singh, an activist who came from Fatehgarh Sahib to express solidarity with Gurpreet Singh and Nihal Singh told Sikh24, “Even though these Singhs are undergoing trial in a murder case, they have sent a strong message to everyone that we will not tolerate sacrilege of our Guru. Punjab Government tried to shield Balwinder Kaur, and she had to pay the price for committing beadbi.”
S. Papalpreet Singh, a prominent activist from Tarn Taran area said that the actions by these Singhs was only way in present situation when the Indian judiciary was exploiting the Sikhs by implementing double standards. Citing Gurbani script ‘ਆਪਣ ਹਥੀ ਆਪਣਾ ਆਪੇ ਹੀ ਕਾਜੁ ਸਵਾਰੀਐ ॥‘, Bhai Papalpreet Singh said that Sikhs would have to solve their issues with their own hands if the Government was shielding anti-Sikh elements. He cautioned that more arrests might be made in the coming days in relation to this case as the Government wants to imprison Sikh activists across Punjab to silence their voice.