In a controversial move, the Fazilka police in Punjab detained a man and his son from the premises of the Golden Temple in Amritsar, subsequently naming them in a First Information Report (FIR) lodged over a month ago under the Arms Act. This action has drawn sharp criticism from the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), which labeled it as "inappropriate" and an interference in the management affairs of the sacred site.
Unprecedented Police Action Inside Golden Temple
The incident occurred last Friday when police from three districts, including Fazilka, Tarn Taran, and Amritsar, coordinated to arrest Satwinder Singh and his son, Prince, residents of Mohan Ke Hithar village in Ferozepur district. The duo was taken into custody from the Darbar Sahib premises without prior information to the SGPC management, sparking outrage among devotees and religious authorities.
SGPC's Strong Condemnation
On Saturday, SGPC Secretary Sardar Pratap Singh issued a statement condemning the police action. He emphasized that the Golden Temple, also known as Sachkhand Sri Harmandir Sahib, attracts a large number of devotees daily from across the globe. Taking anyone into custody without informing the management is not only inappropriate but also against the sentiments of the devotees, he stated. This marks the first such arrest inside the temple since the 1988 police action during Operation Thunder.
Details of the Arms Act Case
The arrest stems from FIR No. 204, registered on December 21, 2025, under Section 25 of the Arms Act at the Jalalabad Sadar Police Station. Initially, in December last year, an accused named Kranti was arrested with a pistol in connection with the same case and is currently in judicial custody. According to police reports, a confidential informant had alerted authorities about Kranti carrying an illegal pistol, leading to his interception near Ghubaya village bus stand. During the arrest, police recovered a 7.62 mm calibre pistol of Romanian make, along with a magazine and two live cartridges.
Police Investigation and Family's Account
After a court in Jalalabad granted four days' police remand to Satwinder and Prince, the police took Prince to his village for further investigation on Sunday. Deputy Superintendent of Police Gursewak Singh from Jalalabad confirmed that both individuals have been nominated in the FIR, though no recovery has been made yet, with expectations of one soon.
Meanwhile, Satwinder's wife, Lakhbir Kaur, recounted the events, stating that the family had visited the Golden Temple around 9:30 am on Friday. While she, her mother-in-law, and others went for a holy bath, Satwinder and Prince waited outside. Upon their return, both were missing, with their mobile phones switched off. Later, they discovered that police had raided their home in the village, breaking locks, though no officer confirmed the custody to the family.
Background and Community Reactions
Kaur dismissed rumors linking her husband to illegal activities or connections with Pakistan, noting that he had previously served a sentence in a land dispute case and was released on bail five to seven months ago. She also claimed the family has no knowledge of Kranti, the earlier arrested accused. Gagan, the village Sarpanch, corroborated Satwinder's criminal background and confirmed the police raid at their residence.
Senior Superintendent of Police Gurmeet Singh from Fazilka declined to comment on the matter, leaving many questions unanswered. The incident has raised concerns about police protocols in sensitive religious sites and the broader implications for law enforcement in Punjab.
