CCTV reveals accidental sacrilege by 4-yr-old in Samana

Patiala: Patiala police on Wednesday claimed to have traced the source of the alleged sacrilege incident reported on the Bhawanigarh road in the Samana area of Patiala district.The police concluded that the desecration of a Gutka Sahib was an accidental act involving a four-year-old child. The development came within 12 hours of the incident, which initially triggered tension in the area.Soon after sacred pages (Angs) were found scattered near a shop Tuesday morning, special teams led by DSP Samana Fateh Singh Brar and sub-inspector Baljit Singh launched the investigation.The police said a breakthrough came from CCTV footage retrieved from nearby establishments. The video showed an e-rickshaw passing the location about 8:48 am. A child seated beside the driver was seen pulling paper scraps from his pocket and dropping these near a confectionery shop.The police said they identified the vehicle through a distinct "star" emblem displayed on it and traced and questioned the driver.During questioning, the driver and the child's family provided details that the police said pointed to a misunderstanding rather than a deliberate act.According to the police, the four-year-old boy, from a family engaged in the used-clothing and scrap trade, found a small, pocket-sized Gutka Sahib without a cover lying outside a house in the Malakana Patti area. Mistaking it for a diary or notebook, the child put it in his pocket.The police said while travelling to school in the e-rickshaw, the child began tearing pages from the booklet and discarding these along the way. Some pages were thrown near Luthra Property shop, a routine stop for children buying snacks, while others remained in his pocket.Police officials said there was no evidence of intent to hurt religious sentiments. "The child does not even know how to read Punjabi. There was absolutely no malicious intent," said DSP Brar.The police said given the child's age, no legal action could be initiated under the Juvenile Justice Act.To ensure transparency and prevent escalation, the police claimed to have shared the findings and CCTV evidence with over 15 representatives of the Sikh community, including members of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee, the management of Gurdwara Dukhniwaran Sahib, and the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Committee."Representatives of the Damdami Taksal and other Sikh scholars expressed satisfaction with what they described as a 'thorough and foolproof' investigation. The recovered sacred pages were respectfully handed over to religious authorities in accordance with Sikh maryada. We are committed to safeguarding religious sentiments and maintaining communal harmony, and any deliberate attempt to disturb peace will invite strict legal action," said the DSP.The incident initially fuelled suspicions of deliberate provocation due to its proximity to the ongoing Dharam Yudh Morcha protest site, said the police. However, the swift response and involvement of religious leaders in verifying the findings helped de-escalate tensions in Samana, the police added.MSID:: 129660425 413 |