DGP in Bathinda as dera followers’ stir on

Bathinda, November 23

Dera Sacha Sauda followers’ protest on Monday entered the third day at their state headquarters in Salabatpura with the police yet to arrest the accused who murdered dera member Manohar Lal on October 20.

With more dera followers joining the protest, DGP Dinkar Gupta today reached Bathinda to review the ground situation. He held a meeting with police officers and is expected to submit his report to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on the prevailing situation.

The state government this time is in no mood to take any chances as Bathinda was the epicenter of the 2007 dera-Sikh clash. The Sacha Sauda sect wields considerable influence in the Malwa region of Punjab.

Despite the fact that the Sukha Gill Lamme gang has taken the responsibility for the killing and there’s CCTV footage of the incident, the police have failed to make any breakthrough in the case yet.

The pressure is mounting on the police as Dera followers are adamant on continuing the protest and not cremating the body till the killers are arrested.

Dera followers claim seven persons owing allegiance to the sect have been murdered in the recent past and the administration has failed to bring the guilty to justice. Dera member Manohar Lal was shot dead at his shop at Bhagta Bhaika in the district on Friday. Manohar Lal is the father of Jatinderbir Singh Jimmy Arora, who is accused in a sacrilege incident at Gurusar village in Bathinda. — TNS