Targeting of RSS leaders points to a pattern: Cops

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, October 17

The police believe that the fourth attack on the RSS in the past more than one-and-a-half years points to a pattern to single out the Hindu organisation.

“It is too much of a coincidence, though the police are probing a personal angle to each attack,” a senior officer said. Ravinder Gosain was killed on the day Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh visited the state. This means the assailants want to give out a message, a senior officer said.

In January 2016, Naresh Kumar, an RSS leader, was injured in an attack in Ludhiana, while an RSS shakha in Ludhiana’s Kidwai Nagar came under attack a few days later. In both cases, two motorcycle-borne youths had fired the shots.

In August 2016, Brig VK Gagneja (retd), vice-president of the RSS Punjab unit, was gunned down in Jalandhar.

The police suspect the role of Sikh terror groups for the four attacks, but they have failed to identify or pinpoint any of them. “We have reasons to believe that such groups are upset with RSS activities. The RSS doesn’t recognise Sikhism as a separate religion. It continues to claim that Sikhs are still part of Hindus,” a police officer said.

The police believe the frequent visits of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat to deras in 2014 had irked Sikh hardliners, he said. “The number of RSS shakhas is about 900 now, while it was less than 600 before 2014.”

The police also cite recent photos on social media of full-bearded Sikhs shown in RSS attire. The photos carried a warning that these men posed as Sikhs and can bring a bad name to the community.

No Sikh outfit has claimed responsibility for any of the four incidents so far.

The police believe that weapons used in all four incidents were the same — .32- bore and 9mm guns. The assailants, however, rode a different motorcycle in each case. The police suspect the role of two groups of attackers.

In all three attacks in Ludhiana, the assailants sped away in narrow lanes of Basti Jodhewal region after the incident.

Rajnath talks to Capt Amarinder

Ferozepur: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday spoke to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh about the Ludhiana murder during his visit to the Hussainiwala border. In a press release, former state BJP chief Kamal Sharma said Rajnath Singh told the CM to get the matter thoroughly investigated in a speedy manner. Capt Amarinder told Rajnath that the police had secured CCTV footage of the assailants, adding that the culprits would be arrested soon. OC

Bid to spread anarchy in state: Sampla

Jalandhar: Condemning the killing of RSS leader Ravinder Gosain, Union Minister of State and state BJP president Vijay Sampla said he had contacted Governor VP Singh Badnore, who has sought a report on the matter from the Home Department. Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Sampla said: “It seems as if the RSS has been targeted. It is also the handiwork of elements who want to spread anarchy and goondaism in the state. This ploy has become more prevalent in the past six-seven months,” he said before heading for Ludhiana. He added that he would hold a meeting with top police officers in Chandigarh. Regarding the “Khalistan Zindabad” slogans written on the walls of gurdwaras in the Golden Temple complex, he said, “This is an attempt to disturb communal harmony. The police should take strict action.” TNS