5 dera followers held for setting Malout railway station ablaze

MUKTSAR Muktsar police have arrested five Dera Sacha Sauda followers for allegedly setting the Malout railway station ablaze.

The police have also booked 96 persons in the district for violence and vandalizing public and private property.

Talking to the media, Muktsar senior superintendent of police (SSP) Suhsil Kumar said: “We have arrested five dera followers and also seized 14 petrol bombs, 2kg red chilli powder and sharpedged weapons from them.”

Anil Kumar, Kuldeep Singh, Satpal Singh, Harcharan Singh, Gorakh Nath have been arrested under Sections 307, 436, 427, 506, 148, 149, 452 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code and 34 of the Explosives Act, 1984, and Public property Prevention Act.

Police have also arrested another dera follower Partap Singh of Tiona village.

Gidderbaha deputy superintendent of police Rajpal Singh said: “We have booked Partap Singh under Section 307, 353, 186 of the IPC and Arms Act. Partap also fired at the police during a clash. We have recovered a gun from him.”

Muktsar deputy commissioner Sumeet Jarangal said: “Situation is under control. Only Section 144 remains into effect and curfew has been lifted.”

All educational institutes, including schools, will remain closed on Monday, he said.