Punjab Police Arrests Pardeep Kler, Accused in 2015 Sacrilege Cases

Pardeep Kler, an accused in the 2015 sacrilege cases related to the desecration of Guru Granth Sahib in Faridkot, has been arrested in Gurugram, Haryana. Kler, along with two other accused, was declared proclaimed offenders.

In a significant development, the Punjab Police have apprehended Pardeep Kler, an individual implicated in the 2015 sacrilege cases that deeply affected the state. Kler was apprehended in Gurugram, Haryana, and was subsequently transported to Faridkot, as confirmed by a senior police officer on Friday.

Accused Declared Proclaimed Offenders

Kler, along with two other accused individuals, Sandeep Bareta and Harsh Dhuri, had been declared proclaimed offenders. The trio is accused of being involved in the conspiracy behind the desecration of the revered Guru Granth Sahib in Faridkot during 2015.

Sacrilege Incidents and Protests

The incidents in question involved the theft of a holy copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, the appearance of handwritten sacrilegious posters, and the discovery of torn pages of the sacred book scattered in Bargari, Faridkot. These acts of sacrilege sparked widespread anti-sacrilege protests in the region.

Police Firing and Casualties

In October 2015, during the anti-sacrilege protests, a tragic incident occurred when police firing resulted in the deaths of two individuals in Behbal Kalan. Additionally, several persons sustained injuries in Kotkapura, Faridkot.

Investigation and Blame

A thorough investigation conducted by the Punjab Police into the 2015 sacrilege cases attributed the blame to the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda sect. The investigation report implicated Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the three sacrilege incidents.

Case Transfers and Progress

In 2015, the then SAD-BJP government entrusted the investigation of three cases—the theft of a holy copy of the Guru Granth Sahib, the display of sacrilegious posters, and the discovery of torn pages—to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

However, in September 2018, the Congress-led Punjab government transferred the probe to a special investigation team of the Punjab Police. This decision was made after the state assembly passed a resolution withdrawing consent for the CBI to investigate these cases, citing a lack of progress in the investigation.