Akal Takht Leader Stands With Grieving Family
Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj made a significant visit to Jalandhar on Thursday to meet the heartbroken family of the 13-year-old girl who was brutally murdered after sexual assault. The religious leader attended the Bhog ceremony of the Akhand Path at the family's residence, offering the final Ardas for the departed soul himself.
Condemnation of Brutal Crime and Police Failure
During his visit, Gargaj received detailed information about the entire incident from the family members. He assured them that both Akal Takht and the entire Sikh community stood firmly with them during this difficult time. The jathedar strongly condemned the accused individual, stating he acted with a "devilish mindset" and deserved the strongest condemnation for such brutality.
Gargaj described the incident as both heartbreaking and deeply disturbing, emphasizing that the young child was murdered with extreme cruelty. He highlighted Punjab's tradition of respecting daughters, noting that even during wartime, such atrocities against daughters or sisters were unthinkable.
The religious leader specifically criticized police handling of the case, revealing that officers failed to locate the child despite family members directing them to the accused's house. He demanded immediate dismissal of all police personnel who showed negligence during the initial investigation, stating such delays should never have occurred.
Demands for Justice and Systemic Accountability
Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj advocated for death penalty for the accused and called for a speedy trial of the case. He assured the bereaved family of complete support in their fight for justice and appealed to the Sikh community to remain vigilant against such criminals in society. The jathedar emphasized that such crimes did not reflect the true character of Punjab.
In a significant development following the case, Commissioner of Police Jalandhar Dhanpreet Kaur dismissed ASI Mangat Ram from service on Wednesday for negligence in the sexual assault and murder case of the minor girl in Basti Bawa Khel area.
The police action didn't stop there. Two PCR police officers were suspended and departmental proceedings were initiated against them with immediate effect. The inquiry revealed that ASI Mangat Ram failed to carry out mandatory police procedures at the crime scene and did not properly examine available CCTV footage.
Area residents and family members alleged that despite informing the ASI that the victim was last seen at the suspect's house, he returned empty-handed from his visit. Tragically, the family and local residents later recovered the victim's body from a bathroom in the same house that police had previously searched.
