Key dera men named, security up in Faridkot

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, June 17

A day after the SIT named some office-bearers of Dera Sacha Sauda for the 2015 sacrilege incidents in the district, security personnel have been deployed near all Naam Charcha Ghars (prayer meeting halls of the dera) in the area.

To maintain law and order, besides reserve battalions and anti-riot police teams, security personnel from adjoining districts of Ferozepur, Moga, Muktsar and Bathinda have been deployed in Faridkot.

Refusing to divulge details on the heavy deployment of the police, Nanak Singh, SSP, only said the additional forces would assist the local police in dealing with any untoward situation.

Police sources revealed that besides deploying security personnel near all Naam Charcha Ghars in the district, the authorities are highly vigilant in keeping a close eye on developments at the ongoing dharna of Sikh radical leaders at Bargari village. A heavy police force has been deployed there as well.

The dharna was started on June 1. The Sikh leaders are demanding the arrest of culprits of sacrilege incidents and punishment to the cops guilty of killing two Sikh protesters at Behbal Kalan.

Looking at the past incidents of violence between dera followers and Sikh radicals, the civil and police administration believe that there is a risk of clashes between them. The radicals are particularly enraged after the police officially declared some office-bearers of the dera as key culprits in sacrilege cases.

The houses of some dera followers, arrested by the SIT in the last 10 days, are also under police security to ensure the safety of their family members, said a senior officer.