The Assistant Information Officer of the SGPC, Mr Narinder Pal Singh, briefs a foreign dignitary in this file photo.  — Photo Rajiv Sharma

Amritsar, June 27
In a first-ever joint flying squad raid comprising members of Akal Takht and SGPC, the Assistant Information Officer of the SGPC, Mr Narinder Pal Singh, was caught red-handed while removing “evil spirits” at a dera. The flying squad caught the officer while performing exorcism, which is in gross violation of the Sikh “rehat maryada”, and tenets of the faith.

The raid was conducted on the complaint of the Dal Khalsa and Akal Federation. This is for the first time that the flying squad caught the senior official of the SGPC while indulging in “anti-Sikh activities”. Representatives of both Sikh institutions, who conducted the raid, included Mr Waryam Singh, Assistant Secretary, Dharam Prachar Committee (SGPC), Mr Harbhajan Singh, in charge, flying squad, SGPC, and Mr Satnam Singh, member, flying squad, and Mr Jagbir Singh, a representative of the Akal Takht.

Before the raids Dr Kuldip Singh Rajdhan, Mr Baljinder Singh Shaheed and Mr Baljit Singh Talwandi and Mr Sobha Singh were sent to the dera as a decoy.

A few days back Mr Kirpal Singh Badungar, President, SGPC, had appealed to the Sikh “Sangat” to beware of the “anti-Sikh” activities of the dera babas.

Mr Waryam Singh, who headed the raiding party said a detailed report would be sent to the SGPC chief for taking exemplary punishment against Mr Narinder Pal Singh. He said Giani Joginder Singh Vedanti, Jathedar, Akal Takht, would definitely summon Mr Narinder Pal Singh at Akal Takht taking suo motu action on the proposed report being sent to him. He further said Mr Narinder Pal Singh indulged in “manmat” and could not be spared and added that Jathedar Vedanti might declare him a “tankhahya”.

The flying squad caught Mr Narinder Pal Singh sitting along with Baba Devinder head of a dera, while indulging in exorcising. The squad also noticed presence of other members of Mr Narinder Singh’s family, including an Additional District Attorney. His brother, father and sister-in-law were also present at the time of the raid.

He failed to give any reply to any query of the members of the flying squad. However, his brother came forward with a plea that he (Narinder Pal Singh) was not stopping the Sikh “sangat” from Sikhism. However, Baba Devinder said Mr Narinder Pal Singh had been assisting him in ‘mitigating’ the sufferings of people.

It may be mentioned earlier Baba Devinder had served as personal assistant to Mr Kirpal Singh, former Member of Parliament and President, Khalsa Devan. When contacted Mr Kirpal Singh claimed that Baba Devinder was a “true saint”.