WHY JOGA SINGH ATTACKED MAL SINGH?
According to the SSP, two youths from Joga Singh’s village had taken a test for recruitment as ‘paathi’ last month. One of them, Karanbir Singh, cleared the test. Joga Singh took him to the Takht manager for depositing security of Rs 7,500, as per SGPC rules. However, the then manager refused to take the money, saying that Karanbir, a teenager, was too young for the ‘paathi’s’ job.
After the new manager assumed office recently, they managed to deposit the money on the order of the additional manager, but no receipt was given. On Tuesday, Joga Singh visited the manager’s office to get the receipt. Giani Mal Singh was also in the office at that time.
When the jathedar was coming out of the office, Joga Singh tried to tell him about the harassment by the SGPC staff. However, the jathedar failed to notice him in the crowd and went away. Then, in a fit of rage, Joga Singh attacked the jathedar with a kirpan, the SSP added.
When asked whether the attack was linked to the pardon to the Dera Sacha Sauda head, the SSP did not give a direct reply, saying that Joga Singh had told the police that there was resentment among Sikhs over the exoneration.
The SSP added that Joga Singh had been handed over to his family after initiating proceedings under sections 107/151 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) against him.