Punjab police lodges 1st case under sacrilege Act
Punjab police have registered the first case under the new Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act after torn pages of a Sukhmani Sahib gutka were found in Malout. The FIR was filed against unidentified individuals, and authorities are investigating whether ragpickers may have brought the damaged pages to the area. The law, enacted in April 2026, mandates strict penalties including life imprisonment and fines up to ₹25 lakh for sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib.
- ▪Torn pages of a Sukhmani Sahib gutka were discovered in Malout, prompting the first case under Punjab's new sacrilege law.
- ▪The FIR was filed under the Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, which prescribes life imprisonment and a fine of up to ₹25 lakh for sacrilege.
- ▪Around 40 recovered pages were handed over to a nearby gurdwara following religious protocol, and police are reviewing CCTV footage and questioning locals.
- ▪The SGPC has demanded identification and punishment of the culprits, emphasizing that justice depends on apprehending those responsible.
- ▪Over the past decade, 597 sacrilege cases were reported in Punjab, with only 44 resulting in convictions, highlighting longstanding concerns over enforcement.
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Punjab police lodges 1st case under sacrilege ActPolice in Muktsar, Punjab, registered the first case under a new sacrilege act after torn Sukhmani Sahib pages were found, prompting an investigation.Published on: May 02, 2026 4:50 AM ISTBy Vishal JoshiShare viaCopy link Bathinda: Police in Punjab’s Muktsar district have registered the first case under the controversial new sacrilege act that came into force on April 20 after torn pages of a Sukhmani Sahib gutka (prayer book) were found scattered on a street in Malout town on Thursday.Punjab police lodges 1st case under sacrilege ActPolice said an FIR was registered on Thursday night at Malout police station against unidentified persons under the Jaagat Jyot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act based on a complaint of Jangir Singh,…
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