New Delhi: A day after a man was beaten to death over an alleged sacrilege bid at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi visited the shrine on Sunday and said some ‘inimical’ forces may be involved in it in view of upcoming Assembly elections.
But they will be exposed, said CM Channi as he urged people to maintain calm. The state government has constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the incident, he added.
Channi said that in view of the upcoming Assembly polls in the state, some ‘inimical’ forces or agencies may be involved in this incident.
Channi appealed to people to take due care and caution to protect the religious places to ‘foil nefarious designs’ of the ‘inimical forces or agencies’.
CM Channi said he was deeply hurt by the alleged sacrilege attempt, which was unfortunate and needed to be condemned.
If anyone has come with wrong intention, our intelligence agencies will try to nab and expose them, he added.
Channi said that his government is committed to thoroughly investigate the matter to unmask the ‘real conspirators’ behind the act.
At the same time, the chief minister urged the people to maintain restraint by demonstrating their unflinching trust in the ethos of peace, harmony, brotherhood and religious tolerance.
Replying to a media query regarding possibility of recurrence of such incidents, Channi said that the state intelligence agencies and the police are proactively engaged to avert such acts.
He also called upon the people to be vigilant and extend support to the state government in maintaining law and order.
Channi said no one in the state will be allowed to disturb congenial atmosphere at any cost.
The chief minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and other senior officials.
Earlier in the day, Randhawa held a meeting with the police commissioner and other officials in Amritsar.
He said an SIT has been constituted under the deputy commissioner of police (law and order) that would submit its report in two days.
The accused spent a few hours at ‘Parikarma’ of the shrine, Randhawa said, adding that he was "here with an aim".
A case was registered against the unidentified man late on Saturday night under IPC Sections 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) and 307 (attempt to murder), said Amritsar Police Commissioner Sukchain Singh Gill.
He added that a footage obtained from CCTV cameras at the Golden Temple is being examined to collect further information about the accused.