SGPC sacks sewadar for assaulting youth

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, June 15

The SGPC today sacked one of its staff members and suspended another for allegedly assaulting a youth on the Golden Temple premises.

The victim, Gurpartap Singh (20), was beaten up allegedly by Yadwinder Singh Nihang, Satnam Singh and two other unidentified SGPC employees with sticks. They had accused him of stealing a mobile phone.

The victim was first admitted to the Civil Hospital from where he was taken to Guru Nanak Dev Hospital.

Additional secretary of SGPC Diljit Singh Bedi said they had terminated Yadwinder Singh Nihang and suspended Satnam Singh. He also announced to bear the medical expenses of the victim.

Gurpartap alleged that he was thrashed by a group of SGPC sewadars with iron rods, sickle and sticks. “I had disassociated myself from the company of Yadwinder Singh Nihang due to which he was nursing a grudge against me.”

His father Rajesh Kumar alleged the SGPC’s officials were not ready to listen to him and supported their staff members. Even the police refused to lodge a complaint, he said. “I am still struggling to get the medico legal report of my son to get an FIR lodged,” he added.

Belonging to a Hindu family, the victim’s original name was Gaurav Kumar. He was a regular volunteer at the Golden Temple langar hall who later became a baptised Sikh.