A mob beat a man to death after an alleged sacrilege attempt at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, in an incident that has stoked tensions over a highly sensitive issue just ahead of elections in Punjab.
A video of the incident has surfaced on social media showing the man jumping over the railing inside the Golden Temple during the evening prayer.
According to a witness, the man jumped over the metal grills before the parkash of Guru Granth Sahib. People saw the alleged sacrilege incident on live TV, being telecast by a private channel.?
Talking to the media, Parminder Singh Bhandal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), said the identity of the deceased is being ascertained.
Maintaining that there was no security lapse, Bhandal said when thousands of pilgrims visit the shrine, one cannot predict such a random act by one individual.
The man was caught by Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) task force members.
When he was being taken to the SGPC office, an angry crowd thrashed him badly that later led to his death.
Deputy Commissioner of Police P S Bhandal said the man, hailing from UP, could be around 25 to 30 years of age and his antecedents are being verified.
A heavy police force has been deployed around the SGPC complex at Teja Singh Samundri Hall to maintain law and order.
Several political leaders condemned the alleged sacrilege attempt at the Golden Temple.
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi ordered a probe into the matter.
"CM @CharanjitChanni strongly condemned the most unfortunate and heinous act to attempt sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib in the sanctum sanctorum of Sri Harimandir Sahib during the path of Sri Rehras Sahib," according to a tweet by the Chief Minister's Office.
"CM directed state police authorities to thoroughly probe into the entire matter to zero in at the underlying motive and real conspirators behind this dastardly act. CM also called SGPC president and assured his government¡¯s full support and cooperation to get into the bottom of the case," said another tweet.
Akali stalwart and five-time chief minister Parkash Singh Badal described it as a "heinous attempt", which was "deeply shocking and exceedingly painful".
For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News.