Main suspect in Bargari sacrilege killed in Nabha prison; Capt orders probe

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 22

Prime suspect in the Bargari sacrilege incident was killed by two of his inmates in the New Nabha jail on Saturday, police said.   

The incident occurred on Saturday evening. Mahinder Pal Bittu, a resident of Faridkot and a follower of Dera Sacha Sauda, was attacked by two other inmates with an iron rod. The attackers have been identified as Mohinder Singh and Gursewak Singh—both facing murder charges. 

Doctors at Nabha Civil Hospital, where Bittu was brought in after the attack, declared him brought dead. Bittu suffered serious head injuries in the attack, the doctors said.  

Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has ordered an inquiry into the fatal assault.

ADGP Prisons Rohit Chaudhary will head the fact-finding committee, which has been asked to submit the report within three days. The inquiry will be in addition to the mandatory judicial inquest into the killing, the spokesperson said.

The Chief Minister has ordered beefing up of security in the state in the wake of the attack, and asked people to not give in to rumours.

“Those involved in the attack would face stringent punishment for the crime,” he said.

A Special Investigation Team investigating sacrileges incidents in the state had arrested Bittu last year.