A firing incident outside the residence of former Akal Takht Sahib Jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh in Pratap Nagar, Amritsar, has raised serious questions over his security. The incident came to light after a bullet mark was found on the bonnet of a car parked outside his house, while a cartridge was also recovered from the spot.
Police have launched an investigation into the incident and are examining CCTV footage from the area to establish who fired the shot and from where.
According to Giani Raghbir Singh, the incident took place at around 11:04 pm on August 12. However, his family discovered the bullet mark only around 5:15 pm the following day, when the driver was cleaning the vehicle.
The projectile recovered during the investigation has been identified as being of .32 calibre. CCTV footage has also reportedly captured the sound of gunfire.
The CCTV footage has reportedly shown a young man wearing a red T-shirt travelling on a scooter near the residence. He was also allegedly seen speaking on the phone at a nearby intersection.
Police are attempting to trace the scooter through its registration number. However, investigators have so far not established the identity of the man or whether he had any connection with the firing.
DCP Investigation Ravinder Pal Singh Sandhu said the preliminary assessment suggests that the bullet travelled from an upper direction towards the ground before striking the vehicle.
Investigators are now trying to establish the exact trajectory and firing point. Police teams are also checking CCTV cameras installed at neighbouring houses and other locations in the area to reconstruct the sequence of events.
Giani Raghbir Singh said he had not received any direct threat or threatening phone call before the incident. However, he claimed that there had been incidents in the past in which attempts were allegedly made to hit his vehicle or force a vehicle into his convoy.
He said such incidents had not previously been taken seriously, but the latest firing should be investigated with urgency because the consequences could have been far more serious.
A slight change in the bullet's trajectory, he pointed out, could have resulted in a security personnel member or passer-by being injured or killed.
The incident assumes added significance because of Giani Raghbir Singh’s prominent position in Sikh religious affairs and his previous decisions involving Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Around two years ago, the former Jathedar had been associated with the religious punishment pronounced against Badal in connection with the sacrilege controversy.
The development also comes shortly after Badal was attacked with a kirpan at a gurdwara in Nanded, Maharashtra, on August 13. However, there is currently no established evidence linking the two incidents.
Investigators have also questioned Giani Raghbir Singh’s personal security officer as part of the probe. Police officials said no individual has so far been identified as having directly fired towards the residence.
Authorities are examining multiple possibilities rather than reaching an early conclusion about the motive.
A forensic team has been involved in collecting and examining evidence from the spot. Police are also scanning CCTV recordings from the surrounding area and speaking to residents to identify any additional clues.
An FIR is being registered as part of the investigation, with senior officers, including the ADCP, ACP and SHO, involved in the probe.
The incident may have ended without physical injuries, but it highlights a potentially serious security concern. A firearm being discharged near the residence of a prominent Sikh religious figure could have had fatal consequences.
At this stage, the motive behind the firing remains unclear, and it would be premature to attribute it to any individual or dispute. The priority for investigators now is to establish the direction of fire, identify the shooter and determine whether the incident was targeted or otherwise.
For Giani Raghbir Singh, however, the incident serves as a reminder that even an unexplained gunshot outside a private residence can carry serious implications when the individual involved holds such a sensitive public and religious position.
