Amritsar: The Punjab Police special investigation team (SIT) probing the disappearance of 328 saroops of the Guru Granth Sahib from Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) records on Saturday recorded the statements of five SGPC employees and trustees. SGPC legal adviser Amanbir Singh Siali said the statements were recorded under Section 180 of Bhartiya Nayaya Sanhita, with one of the five people being trustee Sukhdev Singh Bhaur.Siali said the SIT had issued summons to 40 serving and retired officials of SGPC to appear at the police commissioner’s office.The summoning of SGPC employees and trustees to the police station drew criticism from the head granthi of the Golden Temple, Akal Takht former jathedar Giani Raghbir Singh, who alleged mental harassment of staff in the guise of investigation.Raghbir Singh said he received information via social media and other sources that the SIT called the 40 persons again for statements. He clarified that all statements had been already recorded during Dr Ishar Singh’s report. He said while he wanted the truth to emerge, no employee would be subjected to physical or mental harassment in the name of investigation.Raghbir Singh also claimed the SGPC was providing all the support to the investigation team. He mentioned the SIT chief himself confirmed the committee was assisting “fully”. In this situation, he said, the administration and govt should ensure the investigation proceeded smoothly and did not put unnecessary mental pressure on officials.Siali said the SIT had earlier recorded statements of six persons, and the statements of the rest of them were yet to be recorded.
