Exploitation of women: Majha ex-servicemen open front against another dera chief

Tribune News Service

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Amritsar, June 30

Majha Ex-servicemen Human Rights Front headed by Col GS Sandhu has now taken stand against another dera head, who he alleged, had sexually exploited around five girls, who had taken shelter at his dera.

He produced one of the women before the media to substantiate his claims. Col Sandhu said he would lodge a complaint with the city police in this connection. In case, the police dithered on taking appropriate action, he would move Punjab and Haryana High Court, he added.

The 45-year-old victim, who originally hails from Gudaspur, was married in Batala. She was living separately from her family after having quarrel with her husband. The victim said she started living in the precincts of the Golden Temple and perform sewa from this January onwards. There she came in contact with an elderly lady, who took her to the said dera, located near Guru Ram Das Hospital here.

Col Sandhu said there were four other women, including one from Maharashtra, who were already living and performing sewa at the dera. She said a few days later, the accused dera head started forcible sexually exploitation of her and other women. They were kept under the security of armed persons and not allowed to come out of the dera, she added. She alleged that the accused dera head used to allure and later threaten them of dire consequences while stating that he had big influence in the government and other major deras.

She somehow escaped from the dera and approached Col Sandhu for help. The victim said she wanted to teach the accused a lesson so that they could not exploit any other woman.

Sandhu said that they would be going to Police Commissioner Amar Singh Chahal for lodging a complaint against the inhuman act. He alleged that said dera head had earlier encroached upon huge chunk of land belonging to a historic gurdwara. He said they would fight a legal battle to provide justice to the victims. Another victim was in contact with them, he added.