Man beaten to death in Nizampur over allegations of sacrilege

Kapurthala, Dec 19 (UNI) Though in a second incident of lynching in Punjab during two days, a miscreant was reportedly beaten to death in village Nizampur near Kapurthala over allegations of sacrilege on Sunday, the police now suggest that the case could be one of misplaced suspicion.
Jalandhar Inspector General of Police G S Dhillon in the presence of Kapurthala SSP HPS Khakh and other senior cops while addressing media here on Sunday denied allegations of sacrilege. He said that preliminary reports suggested it was an attempted theft because everything in gurdwara lay intact.

He said police had booked some unknown under Section 305 (abetment of suicide of child or insane person) of the Indian Penal Code and that charges of murder (Section 302) will be added after verification.
SSP Khakh said the police have also registered a case under section 295 of IPC on the charges of sacrilege.
On Sunday, a man was beaten to death in Nizampur village after some villagers accused him of disrespecting the ‘Nishan Sahib’ (Sikh religious flag) at a gurdwara here this morning. Residents claim they caught him as he tried to run away. Police claimed the man was beaten to death.
IG Dhillon and SSP Khakh said the police had taken note of this incident. They said, any attempt to violate the communal harmony in the state will be dealt with a firm hand. Stern action will be taken against all those disturbing the law and order in Punjab.