SIKH Gurudwara vandalized |
On March 3, a man broke into a Gurudwara in Washington State`s Sikh Temple of Spokane, and using ceremonial swords within the precints of the Gurudwara, inflicted over $30,000 in damage to the building and Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. The Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji reflects the teachings of the ten Sikh Gurus and is considered the Eternal living embodiment of the Gurus. Subarna Nagra, a member of the Gurudwara, said "these are not just Sikh values, but American values". The perpetrator, 44-year-old Jeffrey C. Pittman, was initially detained by the Gurudwara`s priest - Gurjeet Singh - and another member when they arrived for morning prayer.Pittman, who was reported to be naked during the incident, broke in through a side door of the building, a former church, and was wrapped in a blanket. Using the cerermonial swords, he desecrated Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji and the altar upon which the Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji is placed. He also used a fire extinguisher to further damage the property. Once Pittman was detained, Gurjeet Singh and other congregants offered Pittman tea while awaiting local police. They don`t know the motivations behind the vandalism yet, but they do know that police are treating the case seriously and that the perpetrator has been arrested. There are no immediate indications that bias was involved.
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