Key facts
- Six Sikh priests have been arrested in Hoshiarpur, Punjab.
- The arrests are related to the alleged abetment of suicide of a fellow priest.
- The deceased, Jaspal Singh, reportedly faced threats and mental harassment.
- The accused allegedly demanded a share of religious programs and threatened consequences.
- Jaspal Singh died by consuming a poisonous substance on June 12.
Police in Hoshiarpur, Punjab, have arrested six Sikh priests, identified as Satinder Singh, Rajwant Singh, Pargat Singh, Gurjant Singh, Tasveer Singh, and Mehar Singh, for allegedly abetting the suicide of a peer. The deceased, Jaspal Singh (28), was also a granthi. According to police, on June 9, Satinder Singh, along with the other accused and unidentified individuals, visited Jaspal Singh and demanded a share of religious programs. When Jaspal Singh refused, they allegedly threatened and harassed him, accusing him of sacrilege and questioning his religious duties. Distressed by the alleged harassment, Jaspal Singh consumed a poisonous substance on the evening of June 12 and died. A case has been registered under relevant sections of the BNS, including provisions for abetment of suicide, based on the statement of Jaspal Singh's father. Satinder Singh is from Muradabad, Uttar Pradesh, while the others are from Ludhiana and are associated with gurdwaras in and around Hoshiarpur. Further investigation is ongoing.