Tension as Sirsa dera followers throng Salabatpura

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, November 22

At least 2,000 Dera Sacha Sauda followers have descended on Salabatpura, the Punjab headquarters of the Sirsa-based sect, to demand the arrest of the killers of prominent dera member Manohar Lal. The latter was shot dead at Bhagta Bhai Ka in Bathinda district on Friday. The dera followers say they will not cremate the body till their demand is met. Dera committee leader Harcharan Singh said they had met police officials in this regard. Bhupinder Singh Virk, SSP, said the dera administration had raised certain issues which would be placed before the higher authorities.

The followers today blocked the Barnala-Bhagta road and held a protest. Dera Sacha Sauda (Sirsa) senior vice-chairman Jagjit Singh and some political wing members too joined the protesters, who placed the body at the site. Tensions rising, the police have sought from the dera a list of its members with licensed arms.

Meanwhile, the Sukha Gill Lamme group, which has claimed responsibility for the killing, in another FB post said: “He (Manohar Lal) committed sacrilege not once, but four times. We are not against dera followers or religion. Our enemies are those who are against the Sikh community and who disrespect our Guru.”

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