4 nabbed for attack on Dhadrianwale

Charanjit Singh Teja & Aman Sood 
Tribune News Service

Ludhiana/patiala, May 18

The Ludhiana police today claimed to have arrested four persons in the case of attack on Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale. Commissioner of Police Jatinder Singh Aulakh said: “We have arrested four accused in the case. Further investigations are on. We can’t disclose much.” Aulakh did not respond on a query on the alleged involvement of any Sikh hardliner group in the attack.

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The police have taken the CCTV footage from various locations, including a shop from where attackers reportedly bought soft drinks and a tent house from where they reportedly arranged tables for “chabeel”.  

They have recovered three shells of .315 bore, a live cartridge of .315 bore, two shells of spring rifle, baseball bats and some juice packets from the spot.

Meanwhile, the body of Bhupinder Singh Khasi Kalan (35), who was shot dead during the attack, was cremated at his native Khasi Kalan village, 20 km from here.

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Dhadrianwale, Sikh leaders, including Dhian Singh Mand, and a large number of political activists attended the cremation. A heavy police force was deputed in the area.

Earlier, the relatives of Bhupinder Singh staged a protest by blocking traffic at the Samrala Chowk this morning. They raised slogans against the Chief Minister and his deputy. The protest was organsied by Gurcharan Singh Boparai, Congress MLA from Raikot and a cousin brother of the deceased. 

Meanwhile, Dhadriawale reached his headquarters on the Patiala-Sangrur road in the early hours where he was received by a large number of followers.

The police today provided some vehicles and over 24 armed men for the security of the Sikh preacher, who till date was relying on personal security guards.

Dhadrianwale said he “was the prime target of the attack” as the attackers had started indiscriminate firing on the front seat next to the driver. It was only a miracle that he escaped unhurt as he was sitting on the rear seat, he said. “There was a clear attempt to eliminate me. The police should nab the culprits at the earliest,” he said.

Talking to the media, he urged the government to get to the bottom of the case and nab the masterminds who purported the attack on him and his cavalcade that resulted in the death of his close associate.

Patiala Range DIG Balkar Singh and SSP Gurmeet Chauhan visited the preacher at his headquarters and assured him of early action. Paramraj Umranangal, IG, Patiala Zone, said they had deployed policemen with Dhadrianwale who “will stay with him and provide an outer ring of the security”.

Meanwhile, Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal directed Paramraj Umranangal, IG, to ensure an expeditious probe. “Not a single person responsible for the cowardly attack will be spared. Five of the alleged assailants have already been apprehended and the police will soon nab the remaining attackers,” he said. 

Protest in Ludhiana

The relatives of Bhupinder Singh staged a protest by blocking traffic at the Samrala Chowk on Wednesday. They raised slogans against the Chief Minister and his deputy. The protest was organsied by Gurcharan Singh Boparai, Congress MLA from Raikot and a cousin brother of the deceased. 

CM calls up preacher

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on Wednesday called up Dhadrianwale and assured him of all steps needed to ensure his security. The Chief Minister expressed condolences to the family of the preacher’s close associate who lost his life in the attack. Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal too condemened the attack.

AAP leaders at dera

Dhadrianwale met AAP leaders Sanjay Singh, Sucha Singh Chhotepur and Himmat Singh Shergill at his dera. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also talked to him over the phone to know about his well being and express condolence over the death of Bhupinder Singh.