A 19-year-old youth was lynched to death after he allegedly tore some pages of the Guru Granth Sahib at a gurdwara in Punjab’s Ferozepur on Saturday.

The deceased identified as Bakshish Singh, a resident of Talli Gulam village, allegedly tore some pages of the Guru Granth Sahib after entering the premises of the gurdwara in Bandala village, police said. After which an angry crowd caught and thrashed him to death, they added.

His father Lakhwinder Singh said that Bakshish was mentally challenged and was undergoing treatment for it.

Police have filed an FIR against the deceased for the alleged sacrilege. Bakshish’s father, however, called on the police to register a case against those who killed his son.

According to police, Bakshish allegedly tore some pages of the Guru Granth Sahib and then tried to flee. He was caught by some people and as the news of the alleged incident spread, villagers assembled at the gurdwara and lynched the youth. He later succumbed to injuries, police said.

Police lodged an FIR against Bakshish under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings or beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code at the Arif Ke Police Station on a complaint lodged by Lakhvir Singh, chairman, Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Committee.

A purported video from the site showed a group of men surrounding Bakshish as he sat bleeding with his hands tied.