Punjab Police Initiates First Case Under Stricter Anti-Sacrilege Law

Punjab Police have registered the first case under a new anti-sacrilege law after torn pages of a religious scripture were discovered. The new legislation proposes stern penalties, including life imprisonment, for sacrilege acts. The case is against unknown individuals for damaging the 'Sukhmani Sahib Gutka'.

The Punjab Police have taken a significant step by registering the first-ever case under the revised anti-sacrilege law, responding to an incident in Sri Muktsar Sahib district. Torn pages of the Sikh religious text, 'Sukhmani Sahib Gutka', were found in a slum, prompting swift police action.

The FIR, lodged against anonymous perpetrators, charges them under Section 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the newly amended Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2026. These sections cover actions meant to insult religious beliefs and uphold respect for the Sikh scriptures.

This new, stringent anti-sacrilege law was passed by the AAP government, proposing heavy penalties, such as life imprisonment and fines reaching up to Rs 25 lakh, to deter such offenses. The legislation illustrates the state's resolute stance on preserving communal harmony and the sanctity of religious texts.