The Beadbi Bogey: Sacrilege and Separatism in Punjab

Author: Nijeesh N Research Associate; Institute for Conflict Management

Originally published: [This article was originally published by Second Sight at https://www.satp.org/second-sight-volume-2-no-38 on October 13, 2025]

On October 7, 2025, Manjit Singh, alias Billa, allegedly attempted to set fire to a Guru Granth Sahib saroop at Gurdwara Singh Sabha in Koulpur village, Samba district, Jammu and Kashmir. Police arrested him the next day, but enraged local Sikhs retaliated by burning and demolishing his house. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, after a site visit, imposed a lifetime ban on all gurdwara office-bearers and management committee members and demanded the arrest of two additional alleged perpetrators.

The concept of beadbi (sacrilege) has been increasingly exploited by Sikh separatist groups in India and the diaspora to stoke communal tensions and advance Khalistani agendas. The Koulpur incident follows a pattern that began with the 2015 Bargari sacrilege case in Faridkot, Punjab, where the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib was followed by police firing at Behbal Kalan, killing two protesters. This sparked a wave of sacrilege cases, with many still under trial in Punjab and Chandigarh courts. Since 2015, four of over two dozen accused in the Bargari case have been killed in targeted attacks by pro-Khalistani groups abroad or their affiliated gangsters.

National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data underscores Punjab’s persistent issue with sacrilege. Between 2018 and 2023, Punjab recorded the highest crime rate for offences under Sections 295–297 of the Indian Penal Code, with 202 cases in 2018, 180 in 2019, 165 in 2020, 189 in 2021, 205 in 2022, and 194 in 2023. In response, the Punjab Legislative Assembly passed the Punjab Prevention of Offences against Holy Scripture(s) Bill, 2025, on July 15, 2025, proposing penalties from ten years to life imprisonment for sacrilege. A 15-member committee was formed to consult stakeholders and report within six months.

Successive Punjab governments have faced criticism for their inadequate response to sacrilege cases. Many investigations remain incomplete, with accusations of deliberate dilution by labelling the accused as “mentally unsound.” In several instances, mobs or criminal gangs have killed the accused before trials, fostering a culture of vigilantism. Such acts are often justified as “instant justice,” with perpetrators sometimes honored by gurdwaras or panthic organizations, further entrenching this cycle.

Radical political groups have capitalized on these incidents to advance their agendas. Sarabjeet Singh, son of Beant Singh (the assassin of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi), won the Faridkot parliamentary seat in the last general election by focusing his campaign on the 2015 sacrilege case, exploiting public frustration over delayed justice.

Pro-Khalistani factions seize upon sacrilege incidents to propagate a narrative of Sikh victimhood under “Hindu hegemony.” These groups, often aligned with diaspora networks and gangsters in Punjab, portray such acts as deliberate attempts by the Indian state to undermine Sikhism. This rhetoric, reminiscent of the 1980s Khalistani insurgency, leverages digital platforms to amplify a siege mentality, framing every sacrilege case as a conspiracy by rival communities or the state. Such narratives especially resonate with parts of the Sikh diaspora, who remain emotionally tied to these events despite their geographic distance. The resulting outrage fuels fundraising, protests outside Indian embassies, and efforts to lobby foreign governments, often without verified facts.

Khalistani diaspora groups, positioning themselves as defenders of Sikhism, often ignore broader issues like discrimination against Sikhs abroad or forced conversions of Sikh minorities in countries like Pakistan. Their focus remains on an anti-India narrative, sidelining global violations of religious freedom, such as the recent U.S. military ban on beards.

The exploitation of beadbi incidents to manipulate Sikh identity and provoke communal tensions aligns with external strategies, notably Pakistan’s “bleed India with a thousand cuts” policy. To counter this, Punjab’s state institutions must prioritize proactive action, transparent investigations and swift justice, to prevent vigilante violence and separatist propaganda. Strengthening accountability, fostering social cohesion, and upholding the rule of law are critical to addressing the deliberate misuse of religious devotion. Each sacrilege case demands rigorous, evidence-based scrutiny to dismantle divisive narratives and stabilize the region.