Samana (Punjab), Apr 24 (PTI) Activist Gurjeet Singh Khalsa, who had been sitting atop a 400-foot BSNL tower for 560 days demanding stricter laws against sacrilege incidents in Punjab, was finally brought down on Friday morning, officials said.
The development brought to an end a dramatic protest that began when Khalsa (43) climbed atop the tower in Samana near Patiala on October 12, 2024, demanding stringent punishment for the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib.
The Patiala district administration had sought assistance from the Army to bring down Khalsa safely, who descended on Friday morning amid ‘Sikh Jaikara’ and ‘Jo Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akal’ chants.
After he was brought down, Khalsa was taken to a hospital in an ambulance for a medical checkup, with his supporters showering flower petals on him.
Teams from the Army and the fire brigade had conducted a drill on Thursday to bring down the activist, a native of Kheri Nagaian village in Patiala district.
Khalsa decided to come down after the Punjab government recently notified the anti-sacrilege law – the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 – which proposes stricter punishment, including life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 25 lakh, for any act of sacrilege against the Guru Granth Sahib.
The Punjab Assembly unanimously passed the bill on sacroilage during a special session on April 13. Later, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria gave his assent to the bill.
Khalsa’s core demand was the introduction of stricter legal provisions against the sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib.
The protest drew attention across Punjab due to its unique nature and the extreme conditions endured by Khalsa, who remained atop the tower through harsh winter and scorching summer months.
He was sent essential supplies via ropes. PTI CHS SUN ARI
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