Nihang Sikh Who Killed Man Over 'Sacrilege' At Punjab Gurdwara Sent To 7-Day Police Remand

According to Gurpreet Singh, Phagwara Superintendent of Police, the Nihang Sikh killed the youth over suspicion of sacrilege.

The Nihang Sikh killed the youth over suspicion of sacrilege. Image used for representational purpose.

A man belonging to the Sikh Nihang sect who allegedly killed a youth on the premises of a gurdwara in Punjab's Phagwara was sent to police remand for a week by a court here on Wednesday, as reported by news agency PTI. According to Gurpreet Singh, Phagwara Superintendent of Police, the Nihang Sikh killed the youth over suspicion of sacrilege. He further stated that senior police officials were present at the spot and further investigation is underway into the matter. 

"A Nihang Sikh killed a youth at Gurudwara Shri Choura Khooh Sahib over suspicions of sacrilege. Senior Police officials are present at the spot. Further investigation is underway," Singh said as per news agency ANI. The state of Punjab has been witnessing sacrilege incidents of late which refers to the act of breaching or showing disrespect towards something regarded as sacred or holy.  

So far, nobody has come forward to claim the body of the youth. According to Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Gurinder Singh Dhillon, a preliminary investigation revealed that no incident of desecration took place in the gurdwara, as reported by PTI.

Nihangs belong to a warrior Sikh sect whose members are usually seen in blue robes, carrying traditional weapons.

Ramandeep Singh was arrested and booked under Section 304 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) of the Indian Penal Code, and police also invoked Section 295A (outraging religious feelings) against the man who was killed, as reported by PTI.

Superintendent of Police Gurpreet Singh stated that Ramandeep Singh was sent to a seven-day police remand by the court.

A video was posted by the Nihang on social media in which he took responsibility for the killing and claimed that he acted in self-defence, PTI reported. In another video uploaded by Singh, the victim is heard saying that he was sent by someone to engage in wrongdoing.

Earlier, Dhillon had stated that IPC section 304 slapped against the Nihang could be converted into section 302 (murder) following further investigation.