SIT report on Bargari sacrilege cases blames Dera Sacha Sauda; CM Bhagwant Mann hands over report to Sikh leaders

Tribune News Service

Jupinderjit Singh

Chandigarh, July 2

A Punjab Police Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the three sacrilege cases at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala and Bargari villages in Faridkot district has in its final report squarely blamed the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda for the incidents.

It has named Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh as the conspirator besides naming several followers, including the three who have been absconding.

The report was made public on Saturday when Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann handed over its copies to some Sikh leaders who have been pursuing the case. The Sikh delegation comprised Major Singh Pandori, Chamkaur Singh, Bhai Rupa, Resham Singh Khukhrana and Baldev Singh Joggewala. This is the first time that a report has been made public in this manner.

Inspector-General Border Range SPS Parmar headed the five-member SIT constituted on April 4 last year on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The SIT had submitted the final report to DGP VK Bhawra and DGP Intelligence Prabodh Kumar on April 21 this year for approval.

The 467-page report counters several claims made by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in its investigation. The CBI had found no evidence of the Dera Sacha Sauda’s involvement and had filed a closure report. The investigation report was also submitted in a challan before a Faridkot court earlier.

The first case pertained to theft of Guru Granth Sahib from Gurdwara Sahib at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala on June 1, 2015. Then, on September 25, two posters containing derogatory remarks against Sikh religion, Sikh preachers and Guru Granth Sahib were found pasted outside Dhodha Peer Gate at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala. The third incident was reported on October 12, when the pages of Guru Granth Sahib were found strewn outside the Bargari gurdwara as well as in the village streets.

The SIT report said accused Sukhjinder Singh alias Sunny, Shakti Singh, Baljit Singh, Randeep Singh alias Neela, Ranjit Singh alias Bhola, Nishan Singh, Narinder Sharma and Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh (undergoing sentence at Sonaria Jail, Rohtak) were involved in the theft incident and later in throwing around the holy pages.

According to the report, Sukhjinder Singh alias Sunny, Shakti Singh, Baljit Singh, Ranjit Singh alias Bhola and Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh were involved in the second incident regarding pasting of sacrilege posters.

Three other dera followers -- Harsh Dhuri, Pardeep Kler and Sandeep Bareta -- were involved in the conspiracy and are yet to be arrested. They have been declared proclaimed offenders.

The investigation report said there was a direct link with the Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, and the accused, who are followers of the Dera. “It is evident from material/evidence collected by the SIT of Punjab Police that the accused had direct nexus with the management of the Dera.

It said prime accused Mohinder Pal alias Bittu (later killed in Nabha jail by inmates) and his companions were upset due to the non-release of the film ‘MSG-2’, following which Bittu organised a three-day dharna at Moga.

The accused were agitated at the non-release of the film and hatched the conspiracy to take revenge. Accused Nishan Singh and Baljit Singh stole the holy book and later the accused used two cars and a motorcycle to steal the holy book, paste posters and strew the pages around.

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