Yet another attempted attack on Sikh Guru leads to culprit’s death

The funded targeting of Guru Granth Sahib Ji (the Sikh scriptural Guru) in India has continued into 2024, resulting in the death of one paid-attacker yesterday, when a Sikh man acted in “self-defence”.

The criminal was apprehended for acting suspiciously at Sri Chaura Khooh Sahib in Phagwara in the early hours of 16th January, having spent the night at the historical Punjab Gurdwara. When interrogated by sangat (Sikh congregation) led by Nihung Singhs, the criminal was videoed revealing he was paid to desecrate Guru Granth Sahib Ji.

Nihung Singhs are a specific military-faction within the Sikh faith, with a reputation as soldiers across India too. Known to be heavily armed, Nihung Singhs have long actively worked across India to maintain apt protocol in Sikh spaces and beyond.

In recent times, criminals being paid to target Guru Granth Sahib Ji has risen as a prominent and consistent issue the Sikh community faces in India, since approximately 2015, coinciding with the reign of nationalist party the BJP, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Guru Granth Sahib Ji is considered the current and last living Guru of the Sikhs, existing in the form of GurBani (Guru’s word-Sikh scripture). Guru Granth Sahib Ji is treated with regal protocol by all Sikhs. Any attempt to damage or destroy Guru Granth Sahib Ji is deemed the most serious attack on Sikhs possible.

An estimated 300 cases+ of beadbi (religious sacrilege) of this kind have been noted in that period, with culprits caught usually revealing they were paid to do it. Major protests have been held by Sikh communities to demonstrate anger towards a lack of police action.

According to Gurdwara manager Narinder Singh, the criminal (who remains unnamed) died after he attacked Nihung Ramandeep Singh, who was leading the interrogation. During the altercation, the criminal was killed by Singh “in self-defence” according to witness Narinder Singh. Ramandeep Singh was later arrested after a six-hour negotiation with police, who had surrounded the Gurdwara whilst Singh remained inside after news of the killing broke.

During questioning (in Punjabi), the criminal stated he was sent by someone named “Sukhi” to carry out the beadbi for a payment of 3000-4000 Rupees, before directing the conversation away from answering why he was assigned to target Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The video can be seen below. Other more graphic videos will not be shared by The Sikh Press Association.

In October 2021 during the #FarmersProtest, Nihung Singhs executed another criminal agent attempting to attack Guru Granth Sahib Ji at the Singhu (Delhi) border. Various global Sikh orgs spoke in support of the actions, which are deemed by many as a response to acts of war against the Sikh faith. Just months later, another attack leading to another execution occurred at Sri Harmandir Sahib, the holiest Sikh site. In December 2023, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, a former Chief Minister of Punjab, apologised to the Sikh community for failure to apprehend the culprits involved in prior cases.

Speaking on the incident, Sikh Press Association Senior Press Officer Jasveer Singh said:

“Indian nationalists – including those prominently placed in media, politics and Hindu faith circles – are trying to frame this within a ‘Sikh radicals/extremists’ rhetoric. The fact is, Nihung Singhs have been acting in such fashion for centuries in the rare instances anyone attacks Guru Granth Sahib Ji. India knows this.

“What is a relatively new occurrence is the frequency of attacks on Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Who was always greatly respected by people of all faiths in-and-around India. These anti-Sikh hate crimes prompt further violence. A lack of police action on it has led to Sikhs taking their own measures, which was inevitable after 300+ assaults since 2015.

“The global Sikh community simply want answers as to who is behind this war against Guru Granth Sahib Ji. These incidents continue to stoke tensions between Hindus and Sikhs, a tension which provides ammunition for anti-minority Hindu nationalist propaganda.”

Nihung Singh defence of Guru Granth Sahib Ji is not the only time which sees the Sikh order demonised by Indian nationalists. The policing of Sikh spaces against tobacco and even just the existence of diaspora Sikhs in Australia have been maligned by Hindu nationalist groups within the last year.

Targeted beadbi of Guru Granth Sahib Ji remains arguably the most important concern of global Sikh communities.

Media inquiries- media@sikhpa.com.