Satguru’s widow shot, Namdharis in mourning

Bhaini Sahib April 4

Mata Chand Kaur, wife of the late Namdhari sect chief, Satguru Jagjit Singh, was shot by two motorcycle-borne assailants at Bhaini Sahib this morning. She was admitted to Apollo Hospital, Ludhiana, with two bullet injuries where she died in the afternoon. She was 85.  A case has been registered.

The assailants opened fire as she came out of the Namdhari Academy after prayers. The post-mortem examination was performed at the Civil Hospital here amid tight security. The cremation will take place at Bhaini Sahib tomorrow, said Surinder Singh, president of the Vishav Namdhari Sangat. 

The deceased had played an important role in declaring her husband’s nephew Thakur Uday Singh as a successor to him, paving the way for his elevation as the sect head in December 2012 — a decision that was bitterly opposed by Uday Singh’s elder brother, Thakur Dalip Singh. The succession row had turned violent after groups owing allegiance to Satguru Uday Singh and his brother clashed in Amritsar.

Sect followers broke into tears as news of Mata Chand Kaur’s death reached Bhaini Sahib. All shops and educational institutions were closed.  A heavy police force was deployed in and around the dera. Some followers were angry with the police for “failing” to arrest the killers. 

Mata Chand Kaur spent most of her time doing social service. She would often visit the Namdhari Academy and talk to the students about their problems. She was extremely fond of children. “Noble and kind-hearted, she had enmity with none,”  said dera spokesperson Lakhvir Singh. 

Pirthipal Singh, ACP-Crime, Ludhiana, said they were trying to identify the attackers. Punjab DGP Suresh Arora said an SIT would probe the murder.

As the body reached Bhaini Sahib at 5 pm, the situation turned tense as a number of youths raised slogans against Thakur Dalip Singh. A protest march was taken out. — TNS