The Punjab Police Sunday booked 16 people, including SGPC’s former secretary Dr Roop Singh, in connection with the disappearance of 328 ‘saroops’ (sacred copies) of the Guru Granth Sahib in 2020, sparking a sharp reaction from the apex gurdwara body, which termed the move an “open interference” by the Aam Aadmi Party-government in religious matters.

The development comes following a mahapanchayat and protest by the Sikh Sadbhawna Dal at the Heritage Street leading to the Golden Temple. Vidhan Sabha Speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan and Cabinet Minister Harjot Singh Bains reached the site to receive a memorandum from the protesters. Upon receiving the complaint, Bains directed the Amritsar Police Commissioner to register a case immediately.

Consequently an FIR under sections 295 (injuring or

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