NEW DELHI (TIP): The centre has sought a report from the Punjab government on information about the alleged involvement of a foreign hand in recent incidents of the sacrilege of the holy book that sparked state-wide protests.

The central government is seized of the matter and has sought a report from the Punjab government, a senior home ministry official said.

The official said all necessary action will be taken against criminal elements be it within or outside the country.

Punjab police on Tuesday said, it had arrested two brothers for alleged involvement in the desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib and claimed that they were getting instructions and funding from handlers in Australia and Dubai.

Jaswinder Singh and Rupinder Singh were arrested for the case of sacrilege of the Sikh holy book at Bargari village in Faridkot district. The police said the brothers phone records had been traced to people in Australia and Dubai and a special investigation team would probe the matter.

Aam Aadmi Party MP, Punjab, Bhagwant Mann met home minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday and urged him to ensure peace.

During the 15-minute meeting, Mann told Rajnat Sing the situation in Punjab was ‘very disturbing’ in the wake of recent incidents.

The sources said, the home minister gave him a patient hearing and told him that he had already spoken to Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal. Chairman of International Sikh Council Mukhtiar Singh also met the home minister.

Rajnath spoke to Badal on Monday and assured him ‘all possible help” from the centre to address the situation. Singh later apprised Prime Minister Narendra Modi of the situation in Punjab.