Latest news with #Harjot
Time of India
06-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Min Harjot told to repair roads to atone for event in Srinagar
Amritsar: The Akal Takht has pronounced 'tankhah' (religious punishment) on cabinet minister Harjot Singh Bains over the song and dance at what was supposed to be a solemn tribute in Srinagar to Guru Tegh Bahadur last month. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now For the first time, through a resolution, road repair and infrastructure development have been included as part of the penance, not only for Harjot but also state govt. While Harjot has been ordered to atone in his personal capacity by walking to gurdwaras associated with the Ninth Guru and repairing the roads that lead to them, the Punjab govt has been told to initiate development work around these shrines. On July 26, two days after the Srinagar event, Akal Takht had summoned the Punjab minister to appear before Sikh high priests on Aug 6 and explain why a tribute to the martyrdom of a Guru began with music and entertainment. Harjot, who had attended the event, presented himself before the Sikh clergy on Wednesday and accepted his mistake. Pronouncing the religious punishment on Harjot from the rostrum of Akal Takht, the Jathedar, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, ordered him to walk to the birthplace of the Ninth Guru, Gurdwara Guru Ke Mahal, in Amritsar, and Gurdwara Kotha Sahib Patshahi Nauvin, Valla, Sri Amritsar, and ensure the repair of roads and streets leading to the sites and cleanliness of these areas. At Gurdwara Patshahi Nauvin, Baba Bakala Sahib, he is to ensure proper arrangements and maintenance of the roads and infrastructure. The Sikh high priests also directed Harjot to go to Gurdwara Sri Sis Ganj Sahib in Delhi, the site of Guru Tegh Bahadur's execution, and pray there. After that, he is to visit Gurdwara Sis Ganj Sahib in Sri Anandpur Sahib and perform 'sewa' by cleaning shoes for two days at Joda Ghar, offer a deg of karah prasad worth 1,100 and perform an ardas (prayer). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Jaswant Singh, director of Bhasha Vibhag Punjab (language department), Punjab), who was also associated with the event, is currently abroad to attend the wedding of a close relative and will be summoned before the clergy at a later date. Wednesday's meeting over Harjot was presided over by Giani Kuldip Singh Gargajj, officiating Jathedar of Akal Takht and Jathedar of Takht Kesgarh Sahib, and attended by Giani Sultan Singh and Giani Kewal Singh, Granthis of Sachkhand Sri Harmandar Sahib (Golden Temple), Bhai Tek Singh, Jathedar of Takht Damdama Sahib, and Giani Mangal Singh, Panj Piara of Akal Takht. The Srinagar event was organised jointly by Punjab govt, Bhasha Vibhag and other institutions to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Sri Guru Teg Bahadar, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Sati Das, and Bhai Dyala. Videos of the event showed Bir Singh singing cultural songs while many people danced. Seminars, Not Songs The Sikh clergy said the song and dance at such a solemn occasion deeply hurt Sikh sentiments. Following complaints received from the global Sikh Sangat against minister Harjot Singh, director of Bhasha Vibhag Punjab Jaswant Singh, and singer Bir Singh, the five Sikh high priests directed that future govt programs should focus on seminars, discussions, and lectures aligned with Sikh values, and there should be no violation of Sikh 'Maryada' (code of conduct). It was clarified that the Sikh community is capable of organising Gurmat Samagams (religious congregations) and Nagar Kirtans (religious processions), and the govt must not organise such events. Through the resolution, the Sikh high priests said that the Dharam Prachar Committee of SGPC should be involved in organising such events, and govts must support Panthic organisations like SGPC in hosting events at historic Sikh sites. The Sikh clergy, through the resolution, instructed Punjab govt to improve roads and facilities around gurdwaras associated with the ninth Sikh Guru, and consider establishing new public welfare institutions in his memory.
The Print
08-07-2025
- The Print
Dalit teen in Punjab ‘paraded half-naked, head shaved' for ‘facilitating' friend's inter-caste marriage
According to his family members, his alleged 'crime' was that he helped his friend Gurpreet Singh, a man from the Rajput caste, elope with Simran, a woman from the Sikh Ravidas community, a Dalit caste group within Sikhism that traces its lineage to the Chamar community. The incident happened 5 July in Seeda village. Purported videos of the incident show Harjot Singh pleading with the villagers to let him go. In one video, he can be seen begging for mercy. His pleas were not heeded. In another video, his head is being shaved while he is being moved around the village like a criminal. New Delhi: A 17-year-old Dalit boy in Punjab's Ludhiana district was allegedly humiliated by a group of men who shaved his head and beard, blackened his face, and paraded him half-naked while filming the ordeal. The reason: they believed he helped his friend in his inter-caste marriage. Harjot's cousin Satvinder Singh said the assault began after a group of men—identified as Gurpreet alias Gopa, Simranjeet Singh alias Simma, Sandeep alias Sam, Rajveer, and Ramandeep alias Kaka—stormed into a salon where the minor boy happened to be. They dragged him out and began beating him on the street, accusing him of facilitating Gurpreet and Simran's intercaste marriage, Satvinder claimed. 'They had already gotten married in court and were living together in the village. Harjot had nothing to do with their elopement or marriage,' he told ThePrint over the phone. 'Still, they tore his clothes, assaulted him in broad daylight, and paraded him semi-naked through the streets.' The accused suspected Harjot helped Gurpreet keep his whereabouts secret. Satvinder added that the group not only attacked Harjot physically but also humiliated him in public by filming the entire ordeal. 'They forced him to sit on the road while they recorded the video. He has suffered severe trauma and injuries, including internal wounds and head injuries,' he said. 'He was discharged from the hospital just yesterday. The whole episode has left him mentally scarred and socially disgraced.' Also Read: Army jawan held by Punjab police on spying charges, was 'introduced to ISI by Dubai-based smuggler' What police say The Meharban police has registered an FIR under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) including Section 115(2) (voluntarily causing hurt), Section 127(2) (wrongful confinement) and Section 351 (criminal intimidation). Additionally, charges under Sections 66A and 67B of the Information Technology Act—which deal with transmission of offensive content and abuse involving minors online—have been added. Relevant sections of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which addresses crimes against Scheduled Castes and Tribes, have also been invoked. Meharban Station House Officer (SHO) Paramdeep Singh told ThePrint Gurpreet and Simran were adults and they married each other out of their own free will. 'A total of 13 people were involved in this incident. One person has been arrested. He has been booked under the SC/ST Act. The investigation is ongoing,' the officer said. Satvinder added, 'The incident and then the viral video will leave a long term impact on Harjot who has not even turned 18 yet. Nobody would even want to be friends with him now.' (Edited by Ajeet Tiwari) Also Read: Gangster Bhagwanpuria's mother, cousin shot dead in Punjab. Rival Bambiha gang claims responsibility
Hindustan Times
06-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Dalit man assaulted, paraded half-naked with forcibly-shaved face in Ludhiana village; 1 held
A young Dalit man was assaulted and paraded half-naked with his face forcibly shaved and blackened after his friend eloped with a woman in a village here, police said on Sunday. An official from the Meharban police station confirmed that one of the accused, Simranjeet Singh, has been arrested.(Representative Image/ANI) A viral video of the incident, which happened at Seeda village on the outskirts of Ludhiana on Tuesday, has sparked widespread outrage. One person has been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts are on to nab others involved, police added. According to police, Harjot Singh was targeted by the woman's family after they suspected him of helping the couple elope. Harjot's friend and the woman is said to have solemnised their marriage on June 19, following which tensions persisted in the village. On Tuesday, Harjot was at a salon when some men barged in, dragged him out and brutally assaulted him. They forcibly shaved off his beard and moustache, blackened his face, tore his clothes and paraded him semi-naked through the streets while hurling casteist slurs. The men also filmed the act and circulated it on social media, police said. The attackers have been identified as Gurpreet alias Gopa, Simranjeet Singh alias Simma, Sandeep alias Sam, Rajveer, and Ramandeep alias Kaka, they added. An FIR was registered on Saturday under Sections 115(2), 127(2) and 351 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita as well as the provisions of the IT Act and the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. Inspector Paramdeep Singh of Meharban police station confirmed that Simranjeet Singh has been arrested. He said all the remaining accused will be brought to book soon. "This is not just a case of physical assault. It is a brutal attack on human dignity. We are investigating the matter thoroughly," said a senior police official. The victim's family has demanded justice and maximum punishment for the accused.
New Indian Express
06-07-2025
- New Indian Express
One arrested after Dalit youth assaulted, paraded half-naked in Ludhiana village
LUDHIANA: A young Dalit man was assaulted and paraded half-naked with his face forcibly shaved and blackened after his friend eloped with a woman in a village here, police said on Sunday. A viral video of the incident, which happened at Seeda village on the outskirts of Ludhiana on Tuesday, has sparked widespread outrage. One person has been arrested in connection with the incident, while efforts are on to nab others involved, police added. According to police, Harjot Singh was targeted by the woman's family after they suspected him of helping the couple elope. Harjot's friend and the woman is said to have solemnised their marriage on June 19, following which tensions persisted in the village. On Tuesday, Harjot was at a salon when some men barged in, dragged him out and brutally assaulted him.
