Followers not stocking fuel, weapons: Dera

Parvesh Sharma

Tribune News Service

Sangrur, August 23

The Punjab unit of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda today refuted police allegations that Premis were storing petrol, diesel and weapons in Naam Charcha Ghars (congregation/prayer centres).

Inviting senior police officers to inspect the centres, Harinder Insan Mangwal, a member of the dera’s state executive committee, said: “The allegations are baseless. Cops have already been deployed at our centres. How can the Premis store anything illegal?”

He asked the police to verify the facts before issuing letters on the basis of misinformation. In a letter issued by the IGP (law and order) yesterday, all SSPs, commissioners of police and IGs were directed to make arrangements to maintain law and order as dera followers had started stocking fuel at the centres in Faridkot district.

DGP Suresh Arora, who presided over a meeting of police officers of Sangrur and Barnala districts here, said he would examine the letter.

“We thank the dera followers for extending cooperation. The police would react as per the situation. We have made all necessary security arrangements in the state” the DGP added.

Meanwhile, Mangwal and other senior committee members today visited prayer centres in the district and asked dera followers to respect the CBI court verdict, which would be announced on August 25.

“About 35 lakh supporters from across Punjab will reach Panchkula on Friday. There is nothing unusual about it as they have been attending all court hearings along with Pitaji (dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh), who has been implicated,” Mangwal said.