Ludhiana: A firing incident at Gurdwara Sahib Bhagat Dhanna Ji in Gagra village near Jagraon has triggered concern after an unidentified man fired two shots at the entrance and left behind a threatening letter. The letter reportedly contains death threats against Gurdwara head Baba Amarjit Singh and Gurinder Singh Rumi, a worker of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal).
The incident took place around midnight on Monday. According to the available account, the assailant had covered his face with a cloth and fled after firing at the Gurdwara gate. The bullets reportedly struck a wall inside the Darbar Sahib.
Police teams reached the spot on Tuesday to investigate the incident. DSP Jaswinder Singh Dhindsa confirmed that a case had been registered and said several teams were working to identify and trace the accused.
CCTV Footage Shows Man Firing at Gurdwara Gate
According to the CCTV footage described in the report, the man first threw a letter inside the Gurdwara gate before looking around and taking out a firearm.
He then aimed the weapon and appeared to check it. During the process, the firearm slipped from his hand. He picked it up and checked it several times before firing two rounds at the gate and fleeing.
The footage reportedly shows the man covering his face with a cloth. The incident occurred at Gurdwara Sahib Bhagat Dhanna Ji in Gagra village, near Jagraon.
Granthi Says Man Asked if They Wanted Tea Before Firing
Baba Amarjit Singh, the head of the Gurdwara Sahib, expressed shock over the incident and said the bullets struck the wall of the Darbar Sahib.
He said the incident was not merely an attack on the building but had hurt the sentiments of the Sikh community. According to him, the Gurdwara is open to everyone and has no political affiliation.
Baba Amarjit Singh said the threatening letter contained slogans against the Akali Dal and the BJP. He maintained that leaders and workers from the Akali Dal, the Congress and other political parties visit the Gurdwara.
He also expressed concern over the derogatory language used in the letter about Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj, identified in the account as the Jathedar of the Akal Takht Sahib.
Calling the incident an attack on the Sikh community, he said he had full faith in the police and expected the accused to be identified and brought to justice.
Threatening Letter Mentions Akali Dal, BJP and Siropa
The letter reportedly accused Baba Amarjit Singh of supporting the Akali Dal and objected to the presentation of a siropa, a robe of honour, to political leaders visiting the Gurdwara.
It also named Gurinder Singh Rumi and used threatening and derogatory language against both men. The letter allegedly warned that they would be killed before the elections.
The writer further referred to the visits of Akali Dal and BJP leaders to the Gurdwara and accused the two men of supporting them. The identity of the person who wrote the letter has not been established, and the motive behind the shooting remains unclear.
Akali Dal Worker Informs Police About Firing
Gurinder Singh Rumi said he informed the police about the incident by phone around midnight on Monday.
According to his account, unidentified individuals fired two shots at the gate of Gurdwara Sahib Bhagat Dhanna Ji in Gagra village before leaving a threatening note and fleeing.
The letter reportedly contained offensive remarks about Baba Amarjit Singh, Rumi and Kuldeep Singh Gadgaj. It also referred to the presentation of siropas to Akali Dal and BJP members visiting the Gurdwara.
The threats against Rumi and Baba Amarjit Singh have become a key part of the police investigation.
DSP Says SSP Personally Monitoring Investigation
DSP Jaswinder Singh Dhindsa said the cyber team, sub-divisional police teams, teams led by the station house officer (SHO) and the Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) were working separately to trace the accused.
He added that the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) was personally monitoring the investigation.
Dhindsa condemned the incident and said the accused would be identified and arrested. He confirmed that a case had been registered and said the Jagraon Police were committed to ensuring the safety of local residents and their property.
The investigation is ongoing, and the identities of those involved in the firing have yet to be confirmed.