Gurpreet Singh :- Bringing an end to an extraordinary and prolonged protest, Gurjeet Singh Khalsa on Friday descended from a nearly 400-foot-high mobile tower in Samana after spending around 18 months atop the structure. He had been staging the protest to press for stringent legislation against incidents of sacrilege. The decision to call off the agitation came following the Punjab Government’s implementation of the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2026, which he viewed as a significant step towards addressing his demands.
Soon after his decision, the administration launched a carefully coordinated rescue operation to ensure his safe descent. Teams from the Punjab Police, fire services and paramilitary forces were deployed, and a hydraulic platform was used to bring him down without incident. Given concerns over law and order and potential risks, additional security arrangements had been put in place, with assistance also sought to maintain a secure environment during the operation.
Authorities prioritised Khalsa’s health immediately after the rescue. He underwent an initial medical examination at the site before being shifted to a hospital in an ambulance for a detailed check-up, considering the prolonged duration of his stay under extreme weather conditions.
A resident of Kheri Nagaiyan village, Khalsa had climbed the tower on October 12, 2024, to begin his protest. For nearly one and a half years, he remained stationed at the top, enduring scorching heat, cold waves and rain while continuing his demand for strict legal provisions to ensure severe punishment in sacrilege cases. During this period, he had fashioned a makeshift shelter using tarpaulin sheets to shield himself from the elements, turning his protest into a symbol of persistence and resolve.
