Sikhs write to the police, asking for answers
Fire ripped through the oldest Gurdwara in London on Monday 16th March 2009 at Bow Gurdwara, Harley Road
They write :
We write concerning the events that transpired on the 16th March 2009. As you will be aware, the Sikh Temple situate at Harley Road in Bow was raised to the ground by fire.
11 Saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, the Guru of the Sikhs, sustained significant burns during the fire.
This has set the Sikh Community on fire, enraged and in disbelief that such a crime could be perpetrated. There is an energy in the Sikh Community that requires justice to be dispensed to settle it.
To date, this has largely been suppressed by community leaders urging the Sikh Community to pull together and focus its energy towards ensuring that the Sanskar (cremation) of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji was effected respectfully.
Suppressed emotions have now been unleashed, the Sanksar ceremony having been completed. Now the Sikh Community as a whole are seeking answers. Attention has turned towards your investigation.
No arrests have been made and this has brought about feelings of frustration, anxiety and anger amongst the Sikh Community which is bent upon ensuring that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
There have been incidents of uprising in Delhi, upon news reaching India of the fire and damage to Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji.
What needs to be understood is that Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is the Guru of the Sikhs and is so recognised under Indian law as being the living Guru. Although our Guru is timeless, the fire in our minds is akin to an act of murder by law and should be treated with no less passion on your part.
Had the fire claimed the lives of eleven human Sikhs, the 16th February would not have been as dark a day as it is in our hearts.
As such, the Sikh Community would implore you to investigate the matter in the manner that a homicide investigation would be undertaken.
There is a strong feeling amongst the Sikh Community that the Police do not understand the gravity of the crime or that the Police do not care. The community feel that this is low on the list of Police priorities. This is illustrated by the fact that you have interpreted the crime as being a criminal act to “property”, thereby treating the incident only as one of arson.
Not enough is being done to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and this feeling that commitment is lacking on your part will not encourage the Sikh Community to place its faith in your ability to furnish it with justice in the future.
We urge the Police to take this incident seriously. The growing feeling of resentment towards the Police needs to be taken seriously. The matter needs to be taken seriously by the Police.
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