Malout: The Punjab police have officially registered the first case under the recently enacted Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026, following a distressing discovery in the Muktsar district. Authorities were alerted after torn pages of a Sri Gutka Sahib were found discarded in a lane within Ward Number 10 of Malout. This marks a significant legal milestone for the provincial government, as it represents the first instance of the amended sacrilege law being invoked since its implementation earlier this year.
DSP Harjit Singh confirmed that upon finding the desecrated remnants, members of the local Sikh community immediately moved the sacred pages to a nearby Gurdwara and notified law enforcement. An FIR has been filed against unidentified suspects, and a formal investigation is currently underway to identify those responsible for the act. Senior police officials met with the gathered Sangat at the Gurdwara to offer firm assurances that rigorous action would be taken to uphold the sanctity of the faith and bring the perpetrators to justice.
The incident has sparked a strong reaction from community leaders, including Sukhdev Singh, who condemned the act as a grave provocation. The Sikh Sangat has issued a 10-day ultimatum to the police department to produce tangible results in the investigation. Singh warned that if no significant progress is made within this timeframe, the community will reconvene to determine their next course of action, raising the possibility of further strategy meetings or protests if the suspects remain at large.
Under the comprehensive provisions of the 2026 Act, the definition of sacrilege has been significantly broadened to include several specific offences related to the holy scriptures. The legislation now classifies the intentional tearing, burning, or mutilation of the Guru Granth Sahib as a severe criminal act. Other prohibited actions include spitting on the text, handling it with unclean hands, or abandoning sacred volumes in public spaces such as streets or drains. Additionally, the law extends to the digital realm, prohibiting the distribution of offensive social media content or disrespectful media, and strictly forbids the presence of intoxicants like tobacco or alcohol in the proximity of the holy scriptures.
