Dera member shot in his shop at Bathinda

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 20

Manohar Lal, father of Jatinderbir S Jimmy, an accused in a sacrilege case, was shot dead at Bhagta Bhai Ka in Bathinda today. He was on the 25-member committee of Dera Sacha Sauda.

Bathinda SSP Bhupinderjit Singh Virk said Manohar Lal was at his shop when two persons opened fire. Seriously injured, he was rushed to hospital where he was declared ‘brought dead’. The police are probing several angles even as the identity of the killers is yet to be ascertained. In 2018, a Special Investigation Team had arrested Jimmy from Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi. He is out on bail now.

About the case

• On June 2, 2015, an FIR filed at Baja Khana after a “bir” stolen from a gurdwara at Burj Jawahar Singh Wala
• On Oct 12, torn pages of the “bir” found in Bargari
• In ensuing protests on Oct 14, two Sikhs killed in police firing at Behbal Kalan
• On October 20, more pages of the holy Granth found strewn in the village