Tigerstyle and Des C humiliate the honour of the Sikh Community!

TigerStyle Boys

Des C

Known for their inspirational Sikhi based music done in the immortal albums, the mentioned artists have turned their back on their nation. Instead of preserving the honour and pride of our people, they have released a new music video in which so much besti has been done. They way they portray the Sikh people is humiliating.

• A Sikh Girl starts the video and the title Miss Kaur comes across the screen. But she is not dressed like a princess; she is exposing her flesh and dresses like a prostitute.
• The tigerstyle boys appear in the video with their dumallas and long breads. The video contains half nude women jumping all over the scene. Tigerstyke boys appear at 42 seconds into the video.

The question now arises what sort of role models are these people to our youngsters?

What sort of activities are they influencing the next generation to do?

The Guru is saying to do the opposite of what these so called role models are telling us!

Will the immortal team work with these people again, unless they change their new distorted image of lust and corruption?

Fight in Wanstead (London) Over Satkar of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji

On May 21^st a family had the honour of bringing Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji to their house for the blessings of Sukhmani Sahib ji patt. The family members had brought Maharaj from the Gurdwara in their car, the Singh carrying Guru Ji had brought maharaj with satkar placing Maharaj on his head. However on the way back the Gyani who did the patt was taking maharaj back! He had placed maharaj on his laps! A few member of the Sangat expressed their concerns, that this style of carrying maharaj was disrespectful as maharaj is close to our private parts and our clothes may also be contaminated after a visit to the toilet. The Gyani said “you lot are extremists and are making a big deal out of nothing” The sangat said at least put a wooden board or a couple of fresh towels between your laps and Guru Ji. The gyani got angry and laughed saying “All this is nonsense”.

A Singh in the Sangat was filled with biras (warrior spirit) and couldn’t take it no more, he made another Singh carry maharaj on his head and the gyani was beaten up! The gyani informed the police and now a case has been made against the Singh. But the Singh remains in chardi kala and says “I don’t care even if I had to get cut into pieces for the satkar of my Guru Ji”

Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji and the Cannibal

On one of his missions to enlighten people, Guru Nanak Dev Ji traveled many miles in the wilderness of Assam. When he rested close to the out-skirts of a small town, he heard something very distressing and painful. The local people who had gathered to listen to the Kirtan in the evening told Guru Ji that there lived a tribe of man-eaters in the nearby Jungle. The tribe used to capture anyone who ventured into the forest. The people lived in constant fear from this tribe of cannibals. Many children and adults who had gone into the forest to collect fire-wood had never returned and were feared dead. The locals expressed to Guru ji their concern that the cannibals had eaten their friends and relations who had not returned from the forest.

On hearing this the Guru became very sad and was lost in thought. He decided to act at once. Guru ji decided that he must meet these man-eaters and must make them give up this cruel way of life. He decided that he must end the misery of the town's people and free them from this constant fear of becoming victims of these merciless cannibals.

He got ready to go. His two companions readily agreed to go with him. But the people said, "Guru ji, please don’t go. They will kill you and eat your flesh."

The Guru replied, "No, I must do my duty. I must make them give up their cruel way of life. I want to make them live like good God-fearing people. I have no fear. God is always with me. He will help me in this work. It is His work. He will save me from the man-eaters. Have no fear. Please pray to God for my success. My success will bring joy to your people. They need to be taught a new and better way of life and be shown that they are doing wrong."

Accordingly, the Guru, along with his two companions, started towards the jungle. Guru ji had been told that the chief of the man-eaters was named Kauda. He had also learnt where that chief man-eater lived. He decided to meet Kauda directly and try and reform him. If he succeeded then, Guru ji knew that Kauda would then reform others of his tribe. With this aim in mind, the Guru started towards Kauda’s hut. Soon, he and his two companions were quite near it.

Kauda saw three men coming. He was highly pleased and had a big smile on his face. He used to go far to catch men for food. That day, three of them were coming to him of their own free will. That was lucky, indeed. He would have enough meat for many days for him and his family.

He had a large, deep, cauldron full of oil. He lit fire under it, in order to make the oil boil. The three men had come very near. He felt the oil. It was as cool as before. The fire had lost the power to heat the oil. He could not understand what had happened to the fire. He decided to roast one of the three on the fire direct. He would keep the other two safely bound. He would eat them later. Guru ji was, then, almost at Kauda's hut. The Guru and his companions were then just very near. The Guru was in front. Kauda caught Guru ji in his arms.

Guru Nanak smiled and said, "Sat Kartar, Sat Kartar".

Kauda was puzzled and a little confused.

He had caught and eaten many men before. None of them had behaved in this manner.

He threw Guru ji into the fire. He was hoping that the fire would kill Guru ji and roast him.

But Guru ji stood up in the fire. He was smiling at Kauda.

Guru ji companions were saying aloud, "Sat Kartar, Sat Kartar"

Kauda began to tremble.

Guru ji stepped out of the fire.

Kauda was stunned. He was amazed that the fire had no power to hurt the Guru. He did not try to push Guru ji back into the fire. Kauda became totally confused and seemed to have lost his mind; his body just froze and lost the power to move.

Guru ji sat on the ground near the fire. He recited Gurbani. Kauda stood listening. His head was bowed. His hands were folded before him.

After a time, the Guru stopped singing the Gurbani. He looked at Kauda with a kind smile. Kauda fell at his feet. The Guru said, ‘Rise, brother Kauda! Guru ji looked at him compassionately and graciously and said, "Kauda! You do not see what you do. You have gone blind. Why do you want to cast yourself in the burning fire of hell?"

Kauda, whose conscience was dead with heinous crimes, suddenly came to realization and was overwhelmed with repentance. Guru ji said, "Give up your cruel way of life. Take a vow not to harm anyone. Be kind and merciful. Help and serve others."

The very gracious and holy sight of the Divine Master made Kauda realize his guilt and he fell on the feet of the Master once again and prayed for mercy. The gracious Master blessed him with Naam. ("God's Name").

Guru ji told him, "Always remember God. Repeat His name. Earn your bread with honest work. Share your earnings with others. Do all this yourself and teach others of your tribe to do the same."

Kauda promised to live and act as advised by the Guru. From a killer and eater of men he became a servant and teacher of men. He was a completely changed person and thereafter lived as a devout disciple of the Guru as a completely honest worshipper of God.

What do you do with your Sikhi tops?

Personally I think Gurbani on tops etc is wrong because no matter how much care you take, you are bound to cause some sort of disrespect. But the most common one is when you put your clothes for the wash; we mix them with our underwear or put the Sikhi tops with other dirty laundry!

Guru Ji put through passive Smoking!

I teach santhiya (teaching Gurbani) and started a new class. One of the singhs Gutka Sahib smelled of cigarette smoke. I asked him why this was; he said he keeps them in his room and that even dough he is an amritadhari but both his parents still smoked in the premises. I said can’t you ask them to smoke outside; he said he has but they refuse saying that it is their house.

I had to tell him that Guru Gobind Singh Ji’s horse even balked when it was passing a tobacco field. The Sikhs should avoid passive smoke as much as they can! It is bad for our health. After great consideration and advice it was decided that all Gutka sahibs from the Singhs premises be removed as passive smoke had contaminated them.

To keep Gurbani in the presence of Smoke is a Great Disrespect. So if you are doing so or know anyone that does that please could you do something about it?

Dayv-Gandhaaree, Fifth Mehla:
Turn away, O my mind, turn away. Turn away from the faithless cynic.
False is the love of the false one; break the ties, O my mind, and your ties shall be broken. Break your ties with the faithless cynic.|
One who enters a house filled with soot is blackened.
Run far away from such people! One who meets the Guru escapes from the bondage of the three dispositions.
I beg this blessing of You, O Merciful Lord, ocean of mercy - please, don't bring me face to face with the faithless cyincs.
Make servant Nanak the slave of Your slave; let his head roll in the dust under the feet of the Holy. Ang 535 SGGSJ

Respect Gurbani Please!

Sikh women Disrespects Gurbani!

Sikhs do not Sit with their back towards Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, due to respect. The Sikhs never place Gurbani on the floor and the reciter of Gurbani always sits higher then the rest of the sangat.

However this punjabi bimbo, put a Ik-onkar tattoo on her back, this is very disrespectful!

Protests Against Mandira Bedi For Hurting Sikh Sentiments

Flop actress and model Mandira Bedi may have had her 5-minutes of fame as a cricket anchor on 'Extraa Innings' , or by appearing in bold attires on Maxim , seems to have irked the Sikh community . According to sources , Mandira sported the tattoo "Ek Omkar" (God is one) in Gurmukhi , on her bare back , while ramp walking , last Tuesday . For those who do not know "Ek Omkar" are the first words of the holy Sikh scripture - Guru Granth Sahib.

Anti-Mandira protests were held in Ludhiana and other cities of Punjab. Akali Dal (youth) workers protested in Ludhiana and burnt an effigy of Mandira on Wednesday , while in holy city of Amritsar, Shiromani Gurudwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) - the mini-parliament of Sikh religion - expressed its displeasure over Mandira using the Sikh religious symbol on her body for fashion modelling.

Ik-onkaar being disrespected on a large scale

The so called Sikhs are taking the piss, first of all Sikhi is against tattoos as they are human made modifications to the way God created us. But ignoring this some Sikhs have adopted to have Gurbani tattoos. This is a total disrespect and insult to Gurbani.

Most people put the ik-onkaar tattoo on their hand or arm.

• But people smoke, drink or eat meat with the tattoo
• Some people wash their backside with that same hand
• When reproducing or taking part in a lustful activity, the Gurbani gets disrespected.
• Gurbani was given to us by God, for our salvation not as a fashion symbol
• Some people put these tattoos on their backs, even when Sikhs never sit with their backs to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
  

Using Gurbani as a tattoo is a slap in Guru Ji’s face. If you have love for Guru Ji you would get it removed or have another tattoo placed over it (this can be expertly done).

The worst thing is that Ik-onkaar means one God, but most people who express this as a tattoo still believe in the caste system or are a racist.

Guru Har Rai, disillusioned with the intolerant attitude of the Mughal Ruler, resolved never to see his bigoted face. However, to elucidate the piety of the celestial Gurbani of the Granth Sahib, he sent his elder son Ram Rai to the Delhi Darbar. After prolonged discourses Ram Rai did manage to convince the Emperor of the impartiality of the Gurbani. But this could not satisfy the preconceived contemptuous attitude of the Muslim Court Clergy. They incited the King to ask Ram Rai to explain why the earth from the grave of a Muslim was demeaned in such a way, “Miti Musalman ki perre pai ghumiyar...” Ram Rai, instead of getting involved in further discussions once again, said that there had been an error in writing the hymn, instead of Musalman it should have been “Be-iman, the deceitful”. This no doubt pleased Aurangzeb and he showered Ram Rai with worldly honours.

The Guru, who revered the Bani so much, could not acquiesce to the action of Ram Rai. He disowned his son and debarred him from Guruship. Ram Rai remained in agony throughout his life at Dehradoon. When he met Guru Gobind Singh, the Tenth Master, at a ripe old age, he begged to be pardoned and he was, then, blessed by the Guru with his deliverance.

Once Guru Har Rai, lying on his bed, heard chanting of the Gurbani by a group of his devotees coming toward his household. He was delayed in getting up in reverence. But when he did stand up, he tripped and hurt his leg. He construed this as the punishment for still relaxing on the bed while the Gurbani was enunciated. Therefore, he decided in the future to sit on the floor only during the day time when his followers were coming in and out reciting the Gurbani. (The listener of Gurbani must never sit on a higher platform then the reciter of Gurbani)

Guru Har Rai, the great apostle of mercy, lived nearly thirty-two years of his life imbued with the Gurbani and its celestial, humane and compassionate teachings. He commenced his journey for his heavenly abode on October 6, 1661, after endowing Guruship to his young son, Guru Harkrishan.

Baba Nihal Singh Ji - The Living Shaheed

On May 22nd 1964- 11 Sikhs were gunned down at Paonta Sahib (Himachal Pradesh) by the Mahant's henchmen.

The sangat of Poanta Sahib had requested head of Tarna Dal (not Nihal Singh, but the one before him) to visit the Gurdwara. They complained that the residing masand was abusing the Gurdwara premises through drinking, raping women that came alone, and making prostitutes dance inside. After several such requests Babaji decided to visit Poanta Sahib accompanied by 13 GurSikhs. They left, from Gurdwara Haria Welan Hoshiarpur, riding horses and horse drawn carts. When they arrived near Gurdwara Poanta Sahib, two GurSikhs carried Babaji's message for the masand requesting initiation of an Akhand Patt at the Gurdwara. The masand did not give a definitive answer, instead assured to respond before the next morning. Meanwhile the masand confided with the local police chief, one of his corrupt friends who endorsed and permitted his evil acts.

Babaji started the Akhand Path next morning which proceeded uninterrupted for 2 days. On the 2nd day, the masand came with the police. They arrested Babaji who was outside at that time and fired at the GurSikhs inside, who were conducting the Akhand Path. The GurSikhs had no guns. For they had not come with the intent to fight, but rather to hear the sangat's concerns. As a result they were brutally massacred. Eleven died and two survived. As each Pathi was shot while reciting Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, another simply pushed his body and continued the uninterrupted recitation of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Nihal Singh, 21 at the time, continued with his choar sewa (even when he had been shot 3 times) until the last GurSikh was shot. As the Akhand Path was interrupted, Nihal Singh finally fell. The only survivor was the youngest GurSikh, an 11 year old, who was found hiding behind a nagara (drums). Besides him all others were presumed dead. It wasn't until the bodies were being loaded up in a cart that a small child saw Nihal Singh breath and informed the local Sikhs. The local Sikhs who had gathered by now, screamed to get him some medical attention. Fortunately they succeeded in their efforts. He received medical attention and survived with Vaaheguru's grace. He was subsequently honored by many gurdwaras as Jinda-Shaheed Jathedar. The masand was finally removed. Akhand paths are held each year in the commemoration of this event.

Frontline Comments: The Singhs should have had guns , cos Guru Ji said be tyar per tyar! Be ready for a battle at all times!

Bus driver commits murder of little girl

Father and daughter crushed

An Indian worker and his four-year-old daughter were crushed to death by a bus after the conductor pushed them off for not having the fare.

Angry passengers then set fire to it in revenge and the conductor was arrested and charged with unintentional murder, said police.

Sanschar Toppo, 40, was 10 rupees (12p) short of the fare when he got on the bus with his daughter.

Fake Police encouter 18 years ago fresh evidence!

18 yrs on parents get evidence, seek relief

Chandigarh, May 15

Nearly 18 years after an ITI student was eliminated by the cops near Khanna,
his parents have now gathered evidence in support of their contention that
the killing was staged.

They have finally managed to procure, through the Right to Information (RTI)
Act, a copy of an inquiry report that was allegedly kept under cover for so
many years.

Armed with the report, Krishan Singh and Harbans Kaur of Fathegarh Sahib
have moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, seeking a compensation of Rs 5
lakh for the killing of their 19-year-old son Baljit Singh in a fake
encounter on June 14, 1990.

In their petition, placed before the high court division Bench of Justice
M.M. Kumar and Justice Sabina, the two have claimed: Bare perusal of the
report makes it crystal clear that their son was innocent and killed by the
respondent police officials in a fake encounter. The petitioners have added
the Punjab government had asked the Ludhiana deputy commissioner to conduct
an inquiry after the media and the political parties highlighted the matter.

A report in the matter was submitted to the authorities concerned, but its
contents were not made public. Though time and again they contacted the
powers that be for procuring a copy of the report, it was not handed over to
them.

Even efforts to procure the information through the RTI Act did not prove
beneficial, initially. An application was moved on May 30, 2007, for the
report. But the DC concerned said it had been submitted to the Home
Department.

The petitioner then approached the Home Department. But, nothing came out of
it. Eventually, the petitioner moved the Appellate Commission; and on its
directions the report was handed over to them.

Going into the background of the matter, the petitioners added Baljit Singh
and friend were riding a scooter when they were apprehended by the
respondent police officers near Kotla Ajmer village. The two were, on the
direction of then DSP Paramraj Singh, shot. They were then declared dreaded
terrorist.

The entire drama was enacted for promotions, the petitioners alleged. Taking
up the petition, the Bench today issued notice of motion to the State of
Punjab and the respondent police officials. The case will now come up for
hearing on May 27.

Try And attend!

Celebrating the anniversary of Bhagat Baba Dhanna Jat

You and your family are cordially invited by the

Guru Nanak Sat Sang Sikh Temple , 202- 204 Cannock Road , Wolverhampton , WV10 0AL & Sikh Community & Youth Service UK ,

To attend this celebration event.

On Sunday 18^th May 2008

Bhog Sri Akhand Path followed by Sardar Amarjit Singh Bharoli Jatha

12.00pm Kavi Darbar & Speakers

Guru Ka Langar will be served

Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh

The True Guru

Guru - The Divine Light

GU- means darkness and
RU- means Light.

In Sikhism the word 'Guru' is, thus, defined as the Light that dispels all darkness, and that is called JOT (Divine Light). Guru Nanak was, therefore, the EMBODIMENT of Divine Light:

'Gur Nanak Dev Govind roop.' 'Guru Nanak is embodiment of the Light of God.' Ang 1192 SGGSJ

The Guru in Sikhism is a perfect Prophet or Messenger of God in whom the Light of God shines fully. The True Guru is in union with Divine Lord of all. Thus he ushers the devotees, the seekers of Truth into a spiritual path of truth. Through the Guru the Glory of the Lord is transmitted to humanity. Literally Guru Nanak's body was a platform from which God Himself spoke and delivered His message- Gurbani (Divine Word). God manifested Himself through Guru Nanak:

'Gur meh aap samoai sabad vartaya.' 'In the true Guru (Nanak) He installed His Own Spirit Through him, God speaks’ Ang 127 SGGSJ

God is in the Guru and Guru is in God. Though God is everywhere and in everybody but His traits are illuminated through the Guru. The Jot (Divine Light) that enshrined Guru Nanak's body and the Primal Jot of God are, therefore, one and the same:

'Gur Nanak Nanak har soai.' 'O Nanak, Jot of Nanak and God are one.' – Ang 865 SGGSJ

When Guru Nanak conferred Guruship on Bhai Lehna (later called Guru Angad), the JOT was passed on and Guru Angad too became the embodiment of Divine Light. In the same way all the nine Gurus were the embodiments of Gur Nanak Jot (like a candle lighting another candle). The tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh then conferred the Guruship on Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji (Holy Scripture), which too became the embodiment of Divine Light. Gur Nanak JOT is, therefore, enshrined and preserved in Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the Living Guru for ever. For the Sikhs, the Sri Guru Granth Sahib is the manifestation of the Guru's Spirit.

When the Sikh Gurus were alive Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was then called Adi Granth as it had not been given Gurgaddi then due to Guru Ji being on earth in a physical form. Now Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the total Guru, so to call Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji - Adi Granth now is very disrespectful!

Sikhism endeavors to uplift the human soul from the shackles of Maya (materialism). It aims at a virtuous life which leads to the ultimate realization of a state of Eternal Bliss. The objective of Guru Nanak's Guruship was to give instructions in the True Name, to save humanity from immersing in the ocean of distress and misery arising out of worldly life, and to blend the human souls with their Creator, thus, emancipating them from the cycle of transmigration breaking all barriers and bonds of sufferings. This is the essential character of Sikh faith.

The essence and diamond of real peace

In kaljug the mortal wonders around after Maya and tries to find peace by chasing money and pleasing the opposite sex. People will do anything for money and the opposite sex, their whole lives are based upon pleasing others and their own dark desires. Going to work, clubs, pubs and parties they spend their lives in search for peace. They chase around the worldly illusion forgetting that it is an illusion. No one has found peace through worldly things. The internal pain and suffering never goes no matter how much one make try and cover it up. The fear of death is always there no matter how brave one may act. Without remembering the lord and living a life according to Gurbani one has:

Negative energy/ is never content/ wastes time in false illusive pleasures/ is never satisfied/ Feels pain and fear burning with the fire of Sin/ The mind is full of evil intentions and corruption/The soul is impure and ones intellect is diseased.

You do not control your seed and semen, and yet you claim to practice abstinence. You are lured by the tastes of the tongue and sex organs. Ang 903 SGGSJ

He does not preserve his semen and seed, and does not chant the Shabad. Ang 945 SGGSJ

But by living according to Gurbani one has:

Positive energies well up inside them/Their soul becomes purer/The feeling of pain goes away/ feeling of contentment in the sanctuary of the lord/ stopped chasing the false and sinful pleasures of the world which lead to hell/ a pure mind which becomes attached to the lord and all corruption is gone.

Your Name, O Lord and Master, is the Purifier of sinners, the Giver of peace, immaculate, cooling and soothing. Ang 207 SGGSJ

In the Lord's Sanctuary there is soothing coolness, peace and tranquility. He has extinguished the burning fire. Ang 210 SGGSJ

The Dark Age of Kali Yuga is so hot; the Lord's Name is soothing and cool. Ang 288 SGGSJ

Those who meditate on You, Lord, those who meditate on you-those humble beings dwell in peace in this world. Ang 11 SGGSJ

The created Universe emanated from within You; there is no other at all. Whatever is said to be, is from You, O God. He is the True Lord and Master, throughout the ages. Creation and destruction do not come from anyone else. ||1|| Such is my Lord and Master, profound and unfathomable. Whoever meditates on Him, finds peace. The arrow of the Messenger of Death does not strike one who has the Name of the Lord. ||1||Pause|| the Naam, the Name of the Lord, is a priceless jewel, a diamond. The True Lord Master is immortal and immeasurable. That tongue which chants the True Name is pure. The True Lord is in the home of the self; there is no doubt about it. ||2|| some sit in the forests and some make their home in the mountains.
Forgetting the Naam, they rot away in egotistical pride. Without the Naam, what is the use of spiritual wisdom and meditation? The Gurmukhs are honored in the Court of the Lord. ||3||
Acting stubbornly in egotism, one does not find the Lord. Studying the scriptures, reading them to other people, and wandering around at places of pilgrimage, the disease is not taken away.
Without the Naam, how can one find peace? ||4|| No matter how much he tries, he cannot control his semen and seed. His mind wavers, and he falls into hell. Bound and gagged in the City of Death, he is tortured. Without the Name, his soul cries out in agony. ||5|| The many Siddhas and seekers, silent sages and demi-gods cannot satisfy themselves by practicing restraint through Hatha Yoga. One who contemplates the Word of the Shabad, and serves the Guru - his mind and body become immaculate, and his egotistical pride is obliterated. ||6|| Blessed with Your Grace, I obtain the True Name. I remain in Your Sanctuary, in loving devotion. Love for Your devotional worship has welled up within me. As Gurmukh, I chant and meditate on the Lord's Name. ||7||
When one is rid of egotism and pride, his mind is drenched in the Lord's Love. Practicing fraud and hypocrisy, he does not find God. Without the Word of the Guru's Shabad, he cannot find the Lord's Door. O Nanak, the Gurmukh contemplates the essence of reality. ||8||6|| Ang 906 SGGSJ

Must See Video! The Deathlessness of the Akal Thakht

Girl Gang Raped! She is only 13

DHAKA, Bangladesh, May 8 (Compass Direct News) – Muslim villagers in Mymensingh district eager to rid the area of the Christian work of a local pastor have gang-raped his 13-year-old daughter, the girl's father said.

Pastor Motilal Das of United Bethany Church said that at around 3 a.m. on Friday (May 2) the villagers sexually assaulted his daughter, Elina Das, and left her unconscious in front of his house in an attempt to drive him and his Christian ministry out of Laksmipur village in Fulbaria sub-district, 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital.

Local residents have long been angry with him for his ministry and evangelism, he said, and he has received death threats.

“I did not pay attention to any of the threats or hindrances – I continued evangelical and pastoral activities with prayer,” Das told Compass. “They targeted me to evict from this area to stop the Christian activities. When nothing stopped me, then they wanted to leave me scarred for life, so that I would be upset and not be able to show my face to the society for shame, and therefore I would leave the village.”

Das, who became the first Christian in the area in 1986 and has been key in an increase to more than 250 Christians and the emergence of 12 churches, said the brutal attack was pre-planned and calculated to stop further expansion of Christianity in northern Bangladesh.

“Otherwise, why would they rape such a minor girl?” he said.

Elina Das is the only Christian student at her school, he said. “Always local boys used to tease her on her way to school,” he said, “and used to tell her filthy words against Christianity and western culture.”

Five villagers attacked her when she went from her thatched house to an outdoor latrine, said investigating officer Sanwar Hossen of Fulbaria police station.

“Five people lying in ambush in the pitch-dark near the toilet snatched her by gagging her mouth with her body scarf [and taking her] to a nearby tea stall, 400 meters from the house, where they gang-raped her,” Hossen said.

Besides the religious opposition of some residents, the officer said villagers had no personal or commercial conflicts with the Das family that could serve as a motive for the assault.

“There was no family vendetta or personal clash or enmity of Motilal with the local people for which his daughter would be raped,” Hossen said. “There was even no land dispute between him and the neighbors, because he does not have any land.”

Family members found Elina Das lying unconscious in front of the house that morning.

“When I woke up in the early morning, I saw my daughter lying unconscious in front of my house,” Das said. “ A few hours after the gang rape, they had left her in front of my house.”

Das said he suspected friends of the rapists and perhaps some of the rapists themselves observed them as they went to the police station to file charges, as they later threatened to harm them if they did not withdraw the case, he said.

“I have received death threats against my entire family if I do not withdraw the case,” Das told Compass. “We, all the family members, were afraid and took shelter in the same police station, where my wife, daughter, son and I stayed for two days and one night.”

Elina Das has identified two of the rapists and could identify the others if she saw them or their pictures, said Das. Police have arrested Shebul Miah, 22. The girl identified another suspect, 32-year-old Dulal Miah, alias Dulu, who remains at large.

Fearful of his life if he returned to his home, Das relocated to the home of a friend in Dhaka on Saturday (May 3).

Derelict Police

When Das initially went to police to file charges, he said, police were reluctant to register the case.

“Police told me that it was a false case,” Das said. “They also said that it was a fabricated drama. Police spoke with my daughter in filthy language and showed prurient interest in the details of the incident in front of us rather than filing the case quickly.”

Area Assembly of God (AG) pastor Sento Mir requested that the local denominational chairman encourage police to file charges. Following a phone call from him on Friday (May 2), police immediately agreed to investigate the incident and filed a rape case in the afternoon.

Area Muslims expressed their outrage at the brutal incident, and they are afraid that the assailants are backed by powerful people, Das said.

“We know Motilal Das as a good man in the locality, though he is a Christian,” said a Muslim neighbor, 42-year-old Ruhul Amin, who owns a tea stall in the nearby area. “He had not any personal clash or enmity with others in the village.”

Mir, the AG pastor, said Das will not be able to return to the area unless justice is served.

“If the arrested rapist is not judged properly and is released from jail without any judgment, Motilal Das cannot live in this area,” Mir said. “He along with his family members should leave the village, otherwise they will be in serious trouble.”

Likewise, he added, if the identified absconding rapist is not caught and convicted, the family will no longer be able to live in the area.

Bangladesh on ‘Watch List’

The day of the rape, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) announced annual recommendations for countries to be designated “Countries of Particular Concern,” but it did not include Bangladesh.

Rather, the commission put Bangladesh on its “Watch List” due to the nature and extent of violations of religious freedom engaged in or tolerated by the government. Other countries on the Watch List are Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, and Nigeria.

According to USCIRF, Islamist radicalism and violence, the threat of serious violence and continued discrimination against members of religious minority communities remain significant concerns in Bangladesh.

Frontline Comments:

This is why Guru Ji gave us the kirpan to protect us from evil doers like this in this dark age. Death Before DIshonour!!