The 2021 lynchings in Punjab, India[1] refers to the widely reported lynching incidents that occurred between December 18-19, 2021, at two Sikh temples in Punjab, India in which enraged mobs killed 2 men in response to alleged acts of sacrilege.[2]
| 2021 lynchings in Punjab, India | |
|---|---|
  | |
| Location | Amritsar, Punjab, India |
| Coordinates | 31°37′14″N 74°52′50″E / 31.62056°N 74.88056°E |
| Date | 18–19 December 2021 |
Attack type | Lynching |
| Deaths | 2 |
| Perpetrators | Sikh mobs |
Lynching incidents
editFirst Incident (18 December)
editThe first incident took place on December 18, 2021 at the Amritsar Golden Temple, the holiest shrine for Sikhs, when a man barged into the inner sanctum, where Sikhism's holy book, the Guru Granth Sahib, is kept.[1] The man grabbed a ceremonial sword placed next to the holy book; but was overpowered by Sikh guards and worshippers, and then beaten to death before the Police arrived at the scene.[3][4]
Second Incident (19 December)
editThe second lynching incident took place in the early hours of December 19, 2021, when mentally challenged man who was hungry stole a chapati from the gurudwara kitchen. Police found no evidence of sacrilege and also arrested people in murder charges. Punjab.[5] The Kapurthala police claimed as per preliminary investigations, it seemed to be a case of theft and there was no evidence of sacrilege.[6]
Response
editThe Punjab Police reported that the victims remained unidentified as the Police did not find any Identity Card with them, but attempts were on to identify them by reviewing the security footage of the shrines. [7] Meanwhile, the Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh condemned the "sacrilege" attempt at the Golden Temple and sought a thorough investigation.[8] Further, some intellectuals have noted that the silence of most political leaders on the lynching of the alleged culprits at the holy shrines of the Sikhs, was disturbing.[9]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "2 Lynchings Reported at Sikh Temples in India". NY Times. 19 December 2021. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "Man beaten to death for 'sacrilege' attempt at Sikh Golden Temple in India". BBC. 19 December 2021. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "Indian man beaten to death inside historic Sikh temple". NBC News. 19 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "Golden Temple lynching: Dark days could revisit Punjab". DH. 19 December 2021. Archived from the original on 19 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ Sharma, Ashutosh (29 December 2021). "Kapurthala lynching a planned murder". Outlook (Indian magazine). Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
- ^ "2nd Lynching In Punjab Over Theft, Not Sacrilege, Say Cops". NDTV. 19 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "Golden Temple sacrilege suspect's photo released". Tribune India. 20 December 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "Akal Takht Investigate, expose forces behind sacrilege". Hindustan Times. 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
- ^ "Sacrilege attempt is heinous but leaders not calling lynching by its name shrinks space for conversations Punjab needs". The Indian Express. 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 20 December 2021. Retrieved 20 December 2021.