Mallewala (Sirsa), July 24
Even after the imposition of the National Security Act, tension further aggravated when 11 persons were injured, including eight Sikhs and three police personnel, as the dera followers allegedly opened fire on Sikhs here today.
The injured admitted to the civil hospital included Bhupinder Singh, Harjinder Singh, Gurdas Singh, Raj Singh, Gursewak Singh, Gurlal Singh, Gurnev Singh and Gurtej Singh. Two commandos Sandeep and Harvinder and one policeman Ram Sawroop Singh were also admitted. However, all are said to be out of danger.
The police has arrested dera follower Jeet Singh and also registered a case against 15 others under Sections 307, 323, 141,142, and 148, 120-B of the IPC and also under Arms Act on the complaint of Sher Singh, a former sarpanch of the village.
Tension prevailed here since yesterday
in view of the decision of the dera followers to hold a religious discourse.
The situation deteriorated at 6.30 am when the dera followers detained Sukhpal Singh, son of Sher Singh, manager of Dasmi Patshahi gurdwara, here apprehending that he had come to enquire about their religious discourse. When Sikhs of the village came to know about it, they gathered and marched towards the house of Jeet Singh who was holding the religious discourse.
Jeet Singh allegedly opened fire along with others and also pelted stones on the Sikhs from the roof of his house. In retaliation, the Sikhs also pelted stones on the dera followers. At the time of clash, 35 police personnel were deployed in the village. The police later also got released Sukhpal Singh.
Sher Singh told The Tribune that with the persuasion of the police and administration, the dera followers agreed last night that they would not hold the religious discourse. But in the morning they not only held the discourse but also detained his son. ‘We were attacked when we went for the release of my son” he added.
SP Vikas Arora said the inquiry into the case had been entrusted to the ASP and the police had registered a case against 16 persons.
Dera Sacha Sauda spokesman in a release here said Sikhs had attacked the dera followers when they were holding a religious discourse.
