Gurdaspur, May 9 — In response to growing hostilities between India and Pakistan, the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has begun relocating holy saroops of Guru Granth Sahib from gurdwaras near the sensitive border zones of Dera Baba Nanak and Galarhi to safer premises, including the historic Gurdwara Sri Tahli Sahib in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district.
The precautionary move came shortly after India carried out targeted missile strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir under Operation Sindoor, prompting a directive from the Union Home Ministry to suspend movement through the Kartarpur Corridor starting May 7.
The corridor, a 4-kilometre route between Dera Baba Nanak in India and Kartarpur in Pakistan’s Narowal district, holds significant religious importance as it connects pilgrims to the final resting place of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism.
“We have initiated the process on the request of the sangat of nearby villages. Given the current uncertainty, it was necessary to ensure the safety of the saroops,” said Satnam Singh, manager of the Sri Darbar Sahib gurdwara at Dera Baba Nanak.
“A team of SGPC sewadars has shifted the saroop respectfully, following full maryada,” he added.
Confirming the measure, SGPC secretary Partap Singh noted that the committee was taking every step to preserve religious sanctity while also responding to the needs of vulnerable communities.
“This is a precaution, but we’re also reopening gurdwaras in border areas to shelter and feed local residents,” he said.
The committee had begun mobilizing resources even before the official shutdown of the Kartarpur route.
According to SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami, instructions were issued to gurdwara managers across the border districts to prepare for the potential displacement of civilians.
“We have asked all border-area gurdwaras to arrange langar and accommodation for people seeking refuge,” he said.
So far, nearly a dozen gurdwaras across Amritsar, Gurdaspur, and Tarn Taran have been put on alert, with arrangements underway to provide immediate relief to those affected by the ongoing military escalation.
