4 holy books burnt in fire in Majitha

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, October 18

Four religious books were damaged in a fire incident reported from the Majitha area on Monday. While members of the community have termed it an act of sacrilege, the police investigation reveals that the fire erupted due to short circuit. No substantial proofs were found, which could establish the fact that the incident was an act of sacrilege, said the police.

We are not leaving any angle out of the probe. Forensic teams have collected samples from the spot to ascertain the cause behind the incident —  Abhimanyu Rana, Assistant Superintendent of Police

“As per preliminary probe, fire erupted because of the short circuit. Investigation is still under progress,” the police added.

Mohammad Irshad, a resident of Ward No. 5 in Majitha, stated to the police he worked as sewadar of the Jama Masjid and Dargah Baba Jahoor Shah, located on the Kathunangal road in Majitha. Irshad said his residence was in the Dargah. Yesterday morning, when he woke up for performing sewa he saw fire in the room adjoining Dargah, Irshad added. He immediately opened the room and found some holy books kept on the fridge burning in the fire, said Irshad. He saw a petrol bottle near the window, which indicated that some miscreant had started fire, Irshad added. The miscreant entered room after scaling wall of the Dargah, said Irshad.

Abhimanyu Rana, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), said initial probe revealed that short circuit had caused fire. No movement of any person was found in the CCTV footage of the camera installed at the Dargah, the ASP added.

“We are not leaving any angle out of the probe. Forensic teams today collected samples from the spot to ascertain the cause behind the incident,” the ASP said.