The year 2015 was a time in the history of Punjab when incidents of sacrilege of the holiest scripture of Sikhism, Sri Guru Granth Sahib, shook the social and political atmosphere of the state. These incidents not only hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community, but other incidents related to it, such as police firing at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan, also deeply affected the politics of the state. Despite the passage of ten years, the wait for justice is still on.
How the sacrilege incidents happened
In 2015, the incident of theft of the Saroop of Sri Guru Granth Sahib from the Gurdwara Sahib of village Burj Jawahar Singh Wala in Faridkot district of Punjab, created a huge outcry in the state. This incident took place on 1 June 2015, which was complained about by the granthi of the gurdwara, Gora Singh, to the police. Based on this, an FIR was registered at Bajakhana police station. After this, on 24 September 2015, derogatory posters were found on the notice board of Gurdwara Sahib in Bargari. On 12 October 2015, the discovery of torn pages of Sri Guru Granth Sahib scattered in the streets of Bargari village further incited the anger of the Sikh community.
The Sikh community started peaceful protests in protest against these incidents. However, on 14 October 2015, two Sikh youths, Krishan Bhagwan Singh and Gurjit Singh, were killed in alleged police firing at Behbal Kalan. Earlier, the police had lathi-charge and water cannons on the protesters at Kotkapura, in which several people were injured.
These incidents touched the sensitivities of Sikhism, as Sri Guru Granth Sahib has the status of a living Guru in Sikhism. Therefore, these incidents of sacrilege created deep resentment among the Sikh community.
The grief of the victim families
Mahendra Singh, the father of Krishan Bhagwan Singh, who was killed in the Behbal Kalan firing incident, still gets emotional remembering that day. Even at the age of 75, he could not forget the shock of his son’s death. Mahendra Singh says that he and his son Krishan Bhagwan had gone to the protest site with langar for the devotees. The police first lathi-charged, in which Mahendra Singh also sustained injuries. After this, when firing broke out, Krishan Bhagwan Singh was hit by a bullet and fell. Mahendra Singh tried to give his son water to drink, but he died on the way to the hospital.
Krishan Bhagwan’s son Sukhraj Singh is still fighting for justice for his father in the courts. Sukhraj Singh says that during every election, political leaders make big promises, but no government has been serious about providing justice. According to him, more than a year has passed since the hearing of the Behbal Kalan case, but there has been no progress yet.
Long journey of investigation: zero results
In the last ten years, various governments in Punjab have formed five special investigation teams and two commissions to investigate the sacrilege and firing incidents. But despite these investigations, none of the cases have reached a conclusion yet.
Akali-BJP government (2015-17):
After the sacrilege incidents, the Sadar government formed a SIT headed by Punjab Police ADGP Iqbalpreet Singh Sahota. This SIT had held a press conference on 21 October 2015 and claimed that “foreign forces” were involved in the Bargari sacrilege and two Sikh youths were arrested. But this claim was criticized by the Sikh community and both the youths had to be released. After this, the government formed a commission headed by Justice (Retd.) Zora Singh, but this too did not yield any concrete results.
Congress government (2017-22):
The Congress government also formed an SIT. An SIT was formed under the leadership of IPS officer (Retd.) Kunwar Vijay Pratap Singh to investigate the Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura cases, but its investigation was dismissed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court. After this, a new SIT was formed under the leadership of SPS Parmar. In 2018, a commission was formed under the leadership of Justice (Retd.) Ranjit Singh, which targeted the Badal family, Dera Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and police officials in its report. But despite this, the cases remained mired in the court process.
Aam Aadmi Party government (2022 to date):
The current government submitted the report of the SIT headed by ADGP Surinder Pal Singh Parmar to Sikh and religious leaders on 2 July 2022. In this report, Dera Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim and his followers were found guilty of sacrilege. But this investigation was related to only three cases of sacrilege (Burj Jawahar Singh Wala, Bargari poster, and torn pages of Guru Granth Sahib). The investigation into the Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan firing incidents was not included in it.
Blame on the government: Panthic organizations’ side
On 14 October 2025, Panthic organizations celebrated “Lahant Dirva” at Battiya Wala Chowk in Kotkapura, in which the Sikh community strongly criticized the government’s policy of not providing justice. Former Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh said that the bloody incident that took place ten years ago is still present as a wound in the hearts of the Sangat. He suggested that a committee of Sikh intellectuals be formed, which can fight this case strongly in the courts.
Bhai Harjinder Singh Majhi put the Akali-BJP, Congress, and the current AAP government in the same dock. He said that all the governments used this issue for political gain, but failed to provide justice. Sukhraj Singh Niamiwala also questioned the apathy of the governments and said that as long as the Sangat
If the police do not pursue the cases themselves, justice cannot be expected.
Opinion of Sikh intellectuals
Senior advocate of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, RS Bains, says that due to lack of justice, two governments of Punjab (Akali-BJP and Congress) have already lost power, and people do not have much hope from the current government either. He says that the investigation teams claimed to have found evidence, but each time they left some such shortcomings due to which the cases got entangled in the courts.
According to Bains, the cases of Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan are straightforward and the evidence is also there, but the cases are not progressing due to the shortcomings of the investigation teams. He also said that the courts do not have their own investigation teams, and they give their verdict only on the basis of the evidence and arguments presented by the police.
Governments’ attempts at anti-sacrifice laws
In the last ten years, three governments in Punjab have tried to enact strict laws against sacrilege, but none of the laws have been fully implemented yet.
Akali-BJP government (2016): This government passed the Indian Penal Code (Punjab Amendment) Bill and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Punjab Amendment) Bill in 2016, which recommended life imprisonment for sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib. But these bills were sent back for amendment by the central government, and the law remained incomplete after the Akali government lost power.
Congress government (2018): The government led by Captain Amarinder Singh passed two bills in 2018 with strict punishment against sacrilege, but they did not get the assent of the President.
Aam Aadmi Party Government (2025): The current government passed the “Punjab Prevention of Offences against Sacred Religious Texts Bill, 2025” in a special session of the Vidhan Sabha in July 2025. It has been submitted to a select committee of the Vidhan Sabha, headed by MLA Inderbir Singh Nijjar. The committee is preparing a report based on suggestions from various religions and legal experts, which will later be sent to the central government.
Sukhbir Singh Badal’s “confession” before Akal Takht Sahib
Punjab was under the Akali-BJP government at the time of the 2015 sacrilege incidents and firing incident. In 2024, Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal wrote a letter to Sri Akal Takht Sahib, apologizing for the mistakes made from 2007 to 2017, including sacrilege, Bargari firing incident, and apology to the Dera Sacha Sauda chief. On December 2, 2024, he completed his religious sentence by appearing at Sri Akal Takht Sahib. But despite this, the Akali Dal is politically marginalized.
Current situation and hope for justice
When contacted, Punjab Assistant Advocate General PIP Singh said that several cases related to sacrilege and firing incidents are pending in the courts of different districts. Chargesheets have been filed in some cases, but many accused have filed applications to transfer the case from Faridkot to Chandigarh, which is being opposed by the government.
Panthic organizations believe that followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, including Sauda Sadh, are considered the main culprits of sacrilege. But due to the lax performance of the governments and complications of the legal process, justice remains a distant dream.
The incidents of sacrilege and firing incidents have deeply affected the society and politics of Punjab. The Sikh community and the victim’s family are still waiting for justice. Despite repeated investigations, commissions, and legal efforts by the governments, the cases are mired in court processes. Panthic organizations and Sikh intellectuals accuse the governments of apathy, while the governments cry out for legal process.
The question of when justice will be served is still echoing in the minds of the community. Unless strict action is taken based on evidence, this issue will remain sensitive in Punjab’s politics and society.
