2 killings in 2 days in Punjab: Stunned state looks for answers, finds a ‘conspiracy’

Political leaders cutting across party lines have condemned the desecration or ‘beadbi”, but have said little else — and nothing on the murders in the state that is now weeks away from Assembly elections.

Punjab lynching, pUNJAB GOLDEN TEMPLE LYNCHING, punjab kapurthala lynching, punjab sacrilege case, Punjab govt on lynching, Sikh lynching, indian express

CM Channi with Deputy CM Randhawa at Golden Temple in Amritsar on Sunday. (Photo: Rana Simranjit Singh)

Two lynchings in two days following accusations of desecration, one at the sanctum sanctorum of the Golden Temple and the other at a village gurdwara in Kapurthala district, have left Punjab with a sense of grave foreboding.

Political leaders cutting across party lines have condemned the desecration or ‘beadbi”, but have said little else — and nothing on the murders in the state that is now weeks away from Assembly elections.

Asked about the lynchings, state BJP chief Ashwani Sharma who is usually rarely found wanting for a reaction, said: “I am not aware of the entire situation. Let me get the facts and we will release a statement.”

AAP spokesman Harpal Singh Cheema, who too is not known for holding back, asked for time to gather information from the ground.
Sukhbir Singh Badal, president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, described the two incidents as a “conspiracy”.

Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said the alleged culprit at the Darbar Sahib on Saturday should not have been killed, because he could have helped the authorities to get to the bottom of the conspiracy. Randhawa, who is also the home minister of the state, visited the Golden Temple on Sunday.

After news of the second lynching started to come in, DGP Siddharth Chattopadhyay tweeted, “I have taken serious note of the unfortunate incidents in Amritsar and Kapurthala. Any attempt to violate the communal harmony in the state will be dealt with a firm hand.”

Earlier on Sunday, the RSS issued a statement on the “unfortunate” incident at the Golden Temple. In a statement, RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale strongly condemned the “avmanana” (disrespect) of the Guru Granth Sahib, and called for the strictest punishment for those behind the “conspiracy”. He urged people to not allow such incidents affect communal harmony.

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Sukhdev Singh Kokrikalan, general secretary of the BKU (Ugrahan), the largest farm union of the state, described the incidents as part of a “saazish” (conspiracy) to deflect the attention of the people. “From Monday, we are starting dharnas to demand the promised compensation for damaged cotton. Now the entire focus of the public is on these issues. If you want to stop beadbi and unearth the conspiracy, hand over the culprits to the police, why kill them?” Kokrikalan said.

Activists of various Sikh organisations gather outside the Golden Temple after a man was beaten to death at the temple premises for alleged sacrilege. (PTI)

A political scientist who did not want to be identified said the lynchings showed “the heightened religiosity in the state and the feeling of insecurity in the Sikh community amidst the repeated instances of sacrilege”.

Another well known academic expressed apprehension that the celebration of mob justice by some could lead to anarchy. “This has never happened in Punjab; we don’t want vigilantes running amok,” this social scientist said.

Read | Stay cautious to protect religious sites, says CM Channi after visiting Golden Temple

Another scholar feared that violent incidents like the ones over the weekend could make pilgrims fearful, and affect their flow to the Golden Temple.

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Sacrilege has been a major issue in Punjab since October 2015, after pages torn from the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book that is considered a living entity by Sikhs, were found outside a shrine at Bargari village in Faridkot. Subsequently, two people were killed after police fired at protesters in Behbal Kalan. Though several SITs and two commissions were set up to unearth the conspiracy behind the Bargari sacrilege, there has been no closure.

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The issue resurfaced this April after the Punjab and Haryana High Court quashed an SIT formed by the Congress government to probe the Behbal Kalan firing. Navjot Singh Sidhu came out of self-imposed isolation to blame then CM Capt Amarinder Singh, setting off a train of events that roiled the party and government.

In September, Sidhu resigned as PPCC chief to protest the appointment of the state DGP and AG because of their alleged direct and indirect roles in the incidents of sacrilege.

The Punjab government last week submitted an affidavit in the High Court alleging that the Bargari sacrilege conspiracy was hatched at the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, and when the son of one of those killed in Behbal Kalan began a protest fast seeking justice.

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Calling for a thorough probe into the incidents, Kirpal Singh Badungar, former president of SGPC and a well-known scholar, said these are “a matter of concern not just for Punjab but for the entire nation. When the state burns, India feels the heat”.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More

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