Akal Takht acting Jathedar meets family of slain Jalandhar teen, calls for strongest penalties

The acting Jathedar of the Akal Takht, Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj, met with the family of a 13-year-old girl who was killed during an alleged attempted sexual assault in Jalandhar, urging authorities to pursue the maximum punishment allowed under law. The visit comes as community members continue to express concern about the handling of the case.

During the meeting, the Jathedar offered prayers for the victim and received a detailed account of the events from the family. He assured them that the Panth’s highest temporal seat, along with the broader Sikh community, supports the family as the investigation continues.

Gargajj described the killing as deeply disturbing and said the crime has shaken public confidence in the safety of young girls in Punjab. He noted that Sikh tradition places strong emphasis on dignity and protection of women and girls, and said such incidents demand a serious institutional response.

The Jathedar also questioned what he described as possible police negligence in the early stages of the case and called for immediate action against any officials found responsible. The family has urged the state authorities to ensure an impartial and transparent investigation.