Golden Temple sacrilege attempt: Man from UP nabbed for desecration bid, SGPC to probe staff lapse

PTC News Desk: A man from Uttar Pradesh was apprehended on Thursday after allegedly attempting an act of sacrilege at Gurdwara Shaheed Baba Gurbaksh Singh Ji within the Golden Temple complex.

According to Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, the accused, identified as Abhijit from Saharanpur in Uttar Pradesh, entered the shrine during an Akhand Path at around 2 am. After completing the parkarma (circumambulation) of the Guru Granth Sahib, he allegedly picked up a Sri Sahib (ceremonial sword). Sewadars immediately intervened, overpowered him and handed him over to the police.

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has submitted an official complaint regarding the incident. However, police said that an FIR had not yet been registered.

Meanwhile, the SGPC has initiated an internal inquiry and is considering disciplinary action after it emerged that a security guard assigned to the location was absent when the incident occurred. Darbar Sahib manager Major Singh confirmed that the guard posted at the spot was not on duty at the time.

Responding to questions about the security lapse, Major Singh acknowledged that the guard was outside the designated area and said the SGPC was taking internal action over the matter. The incident has raised concerns over security arrangements at one of Sikhism's holiest shrines.