TARN TARAN, Punjab—Following the outrage by the International Sikhs community over the burning of holy saroop of Guru Granth Sahib at Jodhpur village, Punjab government has reportedly sealed the Tarn Taran branch of Noormehal based cult named Divya Jyoti Jagarti Sansthan (DJJS).

Followers of the cult are suspected of having committed the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib.

Government Promises Swift Action Against Dera

The Punjab Government has also constituted a special investigation team (SIT) under the command of Amritsar Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh and SSP Gurpreet Singh Gill, asking him to submit a report within 48 hours.

Tarn Taran SSP Manmohan Kumar Sharma said that the Punjab government had constituted a Special investigation Team (SIT) to inquire into the matter and submit a report to the state Government within 48 hours. He said that he has sealed the Tarn Taran Branch of Noormehal cult, and to avert any untoward incident, heavy police person have been deployed outside the cult base.

Five Akhand Path Sahib Held at Jodhpur

Meanwhile, a religious function was held following the bhog ceremony of five Akhand Path Sahib at Jodhpur village. During the function, the Akal Takht Sahib appointed Jathedar, Giani Gurbachan Singh, said he has met with Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Badal to discuss the issue. He was accompanied by Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib Jathedar Giani Mal Singh, SGPC executive member Rajinder Mehta and former Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Bhai Jasbir Singh Rode. Giani Gurbachan Singh said that the Punjab Chief Minister assured them to take strict action against those who were responsible for the sacrilegious act of burning of Guru Granth Sahib.

Giani Gurbachan Singh added that it was necessary to seal the dera for maintaining the peaceful atmosphere in the state. Expressing concern over the incident, Jathedar said that there should be a provision of one Gurdwara in one village so that Granthi could know the responsibility. He said that the SGPC would pay Rs. 5,000 monthly to the Granthi for his services.

Jathedar: Granthi and Committee Members Equally Responsible

Jathedar said that if these types of incident happened in any Gurdwara, the Gurdwara’s Granthi and Committee members would be held equally responsible and legal action would be taken against them as well. He said that the Jodhpur incident was happened due to the negligence of the Gurdwara Granthi and committee members.

It is worth mentioning that some followers of Divya Jyoti Jagarti Sansthan had burnt the holy Saroop of Guru Granth Sahib in the Gurdwara Singh Sabha at Jodhpur village on December 1. Later, 10 followers of the cult were booked and 8 of them were arrested.