After govt forms SIT, Bittu cremated

Tribune News Service

Kotkapura, June 24

After a 48-hour standoff between Dera Sacha Sauda followers and the district administration, the former today cremated Mohinder Pal Bittu, who was killed by two inmates inside Nabha jail on Saturday.

The 45-member executive committee of the dera agreed to cremate Bittu after Faridkot DC and SSP told them about the SIT formation, besides assuring them of taking up their demands with the state government. The two officials addressed a gathering of the dera followers at a naam charcha ghar here.

The committee had demanded that all criminal charges against dera followers, including deceased Bittu, in sacrilege cases be dropped and a high-level probe be ordered into Bittu’s killing.

“While the state government has announced the formation of an SIT to probe Bittu’s murder in Nabha jail, we will ensure that adequate security is provided to all dera followers who are in jail or released on bail in cases relating to sacrilege,” said Kumar Saurav Raj, DC.

He said the administration would request the court and the state government for expeditious hearing in sacrilege cases so that no one faced unnecessary harassment.

To end the impasse over Bittu’s cremation, a five-hour-long meet was held between the DC, SSP and executive committee members.

The administration did not involve MS Chhina, IGP, in the matter since the SIT, probing sacrilege and police firing cases, is headed by him. The SIT had nominated Bittu as prime accused in the Bargari sacrilege incident.

Murder to affect probe: Randhawa

Ludhiana: Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said Bittu’s murder would affect the SIT probe into Bargari sacrilege incident. He said there could be a conspiracy. “The murder has left many questions unanswered,” he added. On gangsters taking the responsibility of the murder, the minister said the groups were indulging in cheap credit war. “If they have done such an act, they have eliminated a key evidence,” he said.