Amid dispute, Virendra declared successor at Dera Jagmalwali

Anil Kakkar

Sirsa, August 10

Amid the ongoing succession dispute at Dera Jagmalwali, Virendra Singh Dhillon was declared the next dera chief on Friday evening by the family of the late dera head, Bahadur Chand Vakil Sahib, and the dera trustees.

The announcement was made during a turban-tying ceremony held a day after the memorial service for the late dera chief.

The memorial service, held on Thursday, saw the attendance of several political figures, including Chief Minister Nayab Saini.

In light of the succession dispute following Vakil’s death, the entire district experienced internet shutdown from Wednesday evening till Thursday night as a security precaution.

Senior police officials, including ADGP M Ravi Kiran and the SPs of Sirsa, Jind and Dabwali, were stationed in the area, along with police forces from various districts.

The succession conflict began after the death of Bahadur Chand Vakil Sahib with two factions vying for control of the dera. Sufi singer Virendra Singh, the chief servant of the dera, claimed the position based on a will while the late dera chief’s nephew, Amar Singh, had questioned both the will and the circumstances of his uncle’s death.