Sirsa dera men throw acid on Sikhs,
Gurmeet Ram inciting followers

MANSA: Even as the Dera Sirsa  baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim continues to escape the dragnet of law by procuring bails from the High Court in Punjab, the followers of the dera have kept up the violent virulent attacks on the Sikh sangat. Attacks on Sikhs by dera followers on Sunday and Monday in Alampur Mundra village left a dozen injured. 'Naam charcha' (religious discourse of Dera) was yet again the bone of contention between the two groups. The dera followers indulged in stone pelting, throwing of acid, and used swords. The bloody clash resulted in dozen persons from both sides getting injured. Alampur Mundra resident Lily Kumar, a district level committee member of the dera, insisted on holding a 'naam charcha' at his place on Sunday, but Sikh representatives opposed it and announced their dislike on the gurdwara's speaker. Lilli insisted and then started beating a drum at his own house singularly aimed at provoking the Sikh sangat, resulting in a clash.

On Monday morning, another fight broke out between the two groups when some Dera followers reached Lilly's place to  enquire about the incident and to hold 'naam charcha'. That the attack was preplanned was clear from the fact that the dera men threw acid on the Sikhs. On Tuesday, the police arrested Lilli Kumar for his involvement in initiating the clash. In all, 14 persons, including two women and members of various Sikh organisations and followers of the dera, were injured. A case under Sections 307, 148, 149 and 324, IPC, has been registered at Boha police station on the statement of Amrik Singh, one of the injured, who was later shifted to a Patiala hospital. Members of 'Ek Noor Khalsa Fauj' staged a dharna demanding strict action against the dera followers. DC Surjit Singh Dhillon and SSP Ram Singh visited Lily Kumar's house and pacified the agitators.

They visited the hospital to enquire about the injured. The SSP said that the police were taking action as per the law and the guilty would not be spared. A heavy police force has been deployed in the village. Sources said Gurmeet Ram Rahim, accused of multiple murders and rape and indicted even by the CBI in a long drawn out inquiry carried out at the directive of the courts, is exhorting his followers to indulge in such actions. Now, his women followers who have formed a sort of Sarv Dharam Samaj Sudharak Veranganyae and have launched a campaign in favour of the dera chief. The Barnala area has even seen them distributing pamphlets in the Barnala area.