Rupnagar police removes UAPA and other sections against sacrilege accused

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Rupnagar police removes UAPA and other sections against sacrilege accused

Kanwar inder Singh/ January 13,2023

Rupnagar police has removed the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment Act popularly known as UAPA act section 18 and section under IPC 153 (Whoever malignantly, or wantonly, by doing anything which is illegal, gives provocation to any person intending or knowing it to be likely that such provocation will cause the offence of rioting to be committed, shall, if the offence of rioting be committed in consequence of such provocation) , 153 A (Whoever commits an offence specified in sub-section (1) in any place of worship or in any assembly engaged in the performance of religious worship or religious ceremonies) , 436 (Whoever commits mischief by fire or any explosive substance, intending to cause, or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause, the destruction of any building which is ordinarily used as a place of worship or as a human dwelling or as a place for the custody of property),511 (a general provision dealing with attempts to commit offences not made punishable by other specific sections) against the Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib sacrilege accused Paramjit Singh s/o Gurmail Singh.

In September 2021, tension mounted at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib in Anandpur Sahib of Rupnagar district after accused Paramjit Singh allegedly started smoking a cigarette at the time when the Guru Granth Sahib was being enshrined at the historical gurdwara in the morning at around 4:30 am. On his act, devotees and gurdwara members objected. But, instead of stopping Paramjeet Singh blew the cigarette smoke towards the staff, following which he was allegedly thrashed and nabbed by devotees and members of SGPC task force.

At that time Ropar SSP Vivek Sheel Soni had given a statement that “Paramjit was earlier booked under Section 295A (deliberate act intended to outrage religious feelings) of the IPC. Now, Sections 18 (punishment for conspiracy) of the UAPA; and 153,153 A, 436 and 511 of the IPC have been included in the FIR.

Chowki Incharge, City Anandpur Sahib SI Shiwati said “i had just given an undertaking in the court of Jagmilap singh Khushdil, PCS, SDM Anandpur Sahib about the case details. The charges were removed by my predecessor as i had not done or part of this investigation at any point of time.”

When contacted her predecessor ASI Gurmukh Singh, he said” i had not removed any of these sections. Rather i had added some more sections. I can’t remember what sections i had added at that. The investigation was done earlier by DSP RS Kahlon , than by SHO Rupinder Singh. “

The police had given statement in the court that “no concrete unlawful activities evidence has been found against the accused Paramjit Singh. The accused is a follower of Dera Sacha sauda and is a regular visitor at Dera. As Dera Sacha Sauda has not been banned by the central government for any reasons, his intention to do unlawful activities has not been found in the investigation. “

The police had also admitted that the accused mobile has not been sent for examination at Forensic Science laboratory FSL , Mohali.

Rupnagar police removes UAPA and other sections against sacrilege accused , on this Giani Raghbir Singh, Jathedar Sri Kesgarh sahib said “it is a very unfortunate and reprehensible action for the Punjab Police to recommend removal of strict provisions imposed on the person who had committed the act of indecency by throwing smoke at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib.”