A wound that broke the peace not only of Uttarakhand but also of the heart of a Sikh shrine, Nanakmatta Sahib Gurdwara, was tragically shattered when its revered chief was shot dead within the precincts of the shrine. The heartbreaking event took place in the early hours of Thursday morning as two people on a motorbike with their masks on opened fire. They hit the bullet on Baba Tarsem Singh, and he was killed.
Captured by chilling CCTV footage shared by PTI, the Dera chief can be seen innocently seated on a chair around 6:30 minutes till precisely when the attackers abruptly arrived and opened fire on him. The blatant attack took place at the revered Nanakmatta Sahib Gurudwara, and it left behind the faithful and the community in an emotional and agonizing mood.
From the moment of firing, Baba Tarsem Singh was rushed to the Khatima local hospital for immediate medical aid. However, the hospital couldn’t save his life, as per SSP Manju Nath’s statement of Udham Singh Nagar.
The Nanakmatta Sahib Gurdwara lies on the way to Rudrapur-Tanakpur in the Udham Singh Nagar district and is a spiritual hub for the Sikhs. It acts as a means of prayer and admiration to such an extent that believers from various parts of the country can be there.
This brutal crime caused the Uttarakhand Police to immediately appoint an SIT (special investigation team) to dig out the conditions which resulted in the gruesome murder. The number of police officers on patrol in Nanakmatta has increased to ensure peace. Meanwhile, local authorities contacted central agencies to get their valuable assistance. An all-encompassing search is being carried out as of now, given identifying the culprits and soothe a traumatized society.
This is when the Sikh and other communities across the state have been hit hard by the sudden and unwarranted death of Baba Tarsem Singh. With the investigation escalating and justice being sought, the question is how to manage the community’s affairs peacefully and ensure the safety of all the citizens.
