Hunt for Honeypreet widened
Sect’s Udaipur chief revealed that she had fled to Nepal, say police; forces in Bihar, Rajasthan and UP on alert
CHANDIGARH: On the run since August 25, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s confidante Honeypreet Insan tops Haryana Police’s list of 43 accused wanted for the violence in Panchkula after the Dera Sacha Sauda chief’s arrest for raping two women followers.
Honeypreet accompanied the dera head when the Haryana government flew him in a chopper from the Panchkula CBI court to Rohtak’s Sunaria prison.
“The identity of those giving information will be kept secret,” Panchkula police commissioner AS Chawla said. Photos of the 43 accused have been uploaded on the police web portal.
Honeypreet is the only woman in the wanted list. Most of the other accused are youth and some of them can be seen carrying ‘lathis’ in their hands.
Earlier, a lookout notice was issued against Honeypreet and dera spokesman Aditya Insan, whose name also figures in the wanted list. Aditya Insan, the doctor-turned-follower and dera spokesperson, has also gone underground after being charged with sedition.
Haryana Police had requested the public and media to share videos or photos of the violence. Police said they received several inputs about the arson that left 35 dead.
FLED TO NEPAL: AIDE
Meanwhile according to reports, Honeypreet has fled to Nepal.
The Haryana Police are gathering details of her whereabouts after interrogating Pradeep Goyal, who was arrested in Udaipur. Goyal headed the Dera Sacha Sauda’s Udaipur unit and was in touch with Honeypreet.
A senior officer said the police in Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are already on alert.
Police sources say they have vital leads about her whereabouts and are working on them.
ARRESTS SO FAR
Besides Goyal, the Haryana Police arrested the dera chief’s aide and spokesperson, Dilawar Insan, from Sonepat on September 15. Prakash, alias Vicky, who is the brother-in-law of Aditya Insan, was arrested from Mohali on Sunday, Panchkula’s deputy commissioner of police Manbir Singh had said.
The police have arrested the dera’s state body member, Gobind Insan.
Chawla said police need to question Honeypreet on disclosures made by Surinder Dhiman , another sect functionary arrested for conspiring to help Ram Rahim escape after his conviction on August 25.
The 50-year-old dera chief was sentenced to 20 years’ imprisonment by the CBI court after a 15-year rape trial.