Internet suspended in Sirsa amid Jagmalwali Dera succession row

Anil Kakkar

Sirsa, August 7

Internet services in Sirsa have been suspended until Thursday midnight due to the ongoing succession dispute at Dera Jagmalwali. This measure has been taken in light of the memorial service for Dera Jagmalwali’s late head, Bahadur Chand Vakil Sahib, scheduled for August 8.

It is expected that Virender Singh Dhillon may be declared the new head during the event, which has led to tensions within the dera. One faction supports Virendra while another supports Gurpreet Singh.

To ensure peace, ADGP M Ravikiran, along with SPs from Sirsa, Jind and Dabwali, and police units from Sirsa, Fatehabad, Dabwali, Hansi, and Madhuban, have been deployed in the area. The Internet suspension order was issued by Additional Chief Secretary Anurag Rastogi to maintain public order.

The dispute arose after the death of Dera Jagmalwali’s head, leading to two factions vying for succession. Virender has claimed the position based on a will, while Amar Singh, the late head’s nephew, contests the will and suspects foul play. Virender has stated that he will not assume the role officially until a full investigation is conducted.

Virender who had remained silent about the ongoing dispute, held a press conference to clarify his stance on Wednesday. He stated that he will not assume the leadership of the dera until the investigation is complete and the truth is revealed.