The Punjab Police on Monday arrested two priests and a woman for allegedly desecrating the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib. Thousands of people continued to protest and block roads across the state, due to the defiling of the scripture. Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and assured him "all possible help", reported the Hindustan Times.

The situation in Punjab has been tense since two people were killed in clashes with the police in the Faridkot district on Wednesday, after news of the book's desecration spread. Protesters clashed with police and forced shops to shut down in many cities, including Ludhiana and Amritsar. Areas around Amritsar's central walled city and the Golden Temple were completely shut down on Monday. In the Tarn Taran district, hundreds of shopkeepers staged a protest against the police.