The manager of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib in New Delhi on 11 October flatly denied viral social media claims of a clash between police and protesters at the revered Sikh shrine, calling the rumour 'completely false' — even as Delhi Police separately moved to debunk allegations of sacrilege by its personnel at the same location.

What the Gurdwara Manager Said

Rajendra Singh, Manager of Gurdwara Bangla Sahib, addressed the rumours in a video shared by Delhi Police on Saturday. 'A rumour is being spread on social media that there has been a clash between police and protesters at Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, which is completely false. We have been on duty here since this morning. Nothing of the sort involving the devotees, protesters, or police has occurred here,' Singh said. He further reassured the public that normal religious activity continued uninterrupted: 'Devotees are coming as usual, offering prayers, and partaking in the langar.'

Delhi Police Respond to Sacrilege Claims

New Delhi Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Sachin Sharma also addressed a separate viral video on social media platform X, which alleged that police constables had entered the gurdwara while wearing footwear — an act considered sacrilegious at Sikh places of worship. DCP Sharma clarified that the personnel shown in the footage were walking through a common passage used by all devotees to reach the designated shoe-removal area. 'The process is the same for all devotees coming to Gurdwara. The video showing the same is attached,' he said. The DCP alleged that the video had been circulated with malicious intent to outrage the religious sentiments of a community and disturb communal harmony, and confirmed that legal action was being initiated.

The Broader Context: Anti-CEC Protests and Mass Detentions

The false claims emerged against a backdrop of significant political tension in the national capital. Delhi Police detained more than 3,000 protesters on Saturday after authorities denied permission for a demonstration at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar. The protesters, led in part by CJP leader Ajinkya Shinde, allege irregularities in electoral roll revision and have demanded Kumar's resignation. Shinde announced that demonstrators would march again towards Jantar Mantar on Sunday. Heightened security across the capital appears to have created fertile ground for unverified claims to spread rapidly online.

Misinformation and Communal Sensitivity

This is not the first time that social media rumours targeting religious sites have surfaced during periods of political unrest in Delhi. Authorities and shrine administrators have previously had to issue joint rebuttals to prevent misinformation from inflaming communal tensions. The speed with which both the gurdwara management and Delhi Police moved to counter the claims — including releasing video evidence — reflects a growing institutional awareness of how quickly unverified content can escalate. Delhi Police's decision to initiate legal proceedings signals that it intends to treat deliberate communal misinformation as a cognisable offence.

What Happens Next

Delhi Police have indicated that legal action against those responsible for circulating the misleading videos is underway. Protests against the CEC are expected to continue into Sunday, keeping security arrangements in the capital on high alert. Authorities have urged citizens to rely only on verified official sources before sharing content related to sensitive locations or ongoing law-and-order situations.