In Punjab Town of Accused, Scant Faith in Police's Desecration 'Breakthrough'

Panchgrain Khurd, Punjab: On the road to Panchgrain Khurd village in Punjab, home of two brothers arrested by the police for allegedly desecrating the holy book of the Sikhs in Faridkot earlier this month, at least four roadblocks by protesters slow down traffic.

Rupinder Singh and his elder brother Jaswinder Singh, are among six people arrested across the state as protests have raged on. Police have claimed they have "solved" five of the seven cases of sacrilege and announced yesterday that there was a clear foreign hand in the incidents.

In Panchgrain Khurd, everyone knows the way to the home of the two brothers. It's easy to find the single-storey cement structure, parts of which are still under construction. While the two brothers are in police custody, the rest of their family seems to have left the village.

Ask anyone in the village if they believe the police's claim and the answer is an unequivocal no. "This is the first time I have heard of any such reasoning. ISI or Pakistan? It's not just me, no one in this village believes this theory," one of the villagers, Inderjit Singh, says.
 
Another resident, Jaspal Singh adds, "Let the government show us proof of how many crores there are in his (Rupinder's) bank account. I think this is just a diversionary tactic to shift attention from the farmers issue in the state."

Jaspal says, like him, most of the village knows the two brothers as hardworking youngsters, in their twenties, who sold candies to earn a living.

"Look at the state of his home. You really think this is the home of someone who has been receiving foreign funding?" He asks pointing to the bathroom and toilet that still have cloth curtains where doors should be.

Jagtar Singh, who stays in a village nearby, says he knows Rupinder. "He was badly beaten up last week during the protest. If he had a role to play in the desecration, do you think he would stay in our midst? Wouldn't he run away?" he says.