Seven ‘birs’ burnt in fire at gurdwara near Rupnagar

Rupnagar, Punjab: Seven ‘birs’ of Guru Granth Sahib were burnt in a fire at a gurdwara at Pathreri Jattan village near here on Monday morning. The fire was caused by a short circuit.

On being informed about the incident, Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib jathedar Giani Mal Singh, along with head granthi Giani Sukhwinder Singh and gurdwara Bhatta Sahib, Rupnagar, manager Jasbir Singh Ghungrali Sikhan, reached the gurdwara.

Police personnel led by deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Harbir Singh Atwal also reached the spot. Giani Mal Singh said the ‘birs’ were burnt due to negligence on the part of caretakers of the gurdwara.

He also took a serious note of photos of Hindu gods and ‘samadhs’ (memorials to dead persons) on the gurdwara premises. Ordering their removal, he said these were against Sikh tenets.

Giani Mal Singh said gurdwara caretaker Baba Kesar Singh had been asked to appear at Takht Sri Kesgarh Sahib on October 2. Baba Kesar Singh tendered a written apology and agreed to follow the ‘maryada’ in the gurdwara. The remains of the ‘birs’ were sent to Goindwal Sahib for immersion in the Beas.

Source: HT