Dera follower held for arson in Kaithal dies of ‘heart attack’

: : A 40-year-old dera follower, who was lodged in the Kaithal jail after he was in judicial custody on August 26 for arson, died of heart attack on Wednesday, police claimed.

Police officials said Joginder Singh, a resident of Jakholi village of the district, complained of chest pain on Wednesday morning and was taken to hospital where he died during treatment.

They said Joginder was arrested for his alleged involvement in attack on police and trying to set afire a power house in Rajaund town of the district.

The body was handed over to the family after the post-mortem.

Kaithal superintendent of police (SP) Sumer Partap Singh said his postmortem was being conducted under the supervision of a medical board.

Civil Lines station house officer (SHO) Subhash could not be contacted after repeated attempts. Rajound SHO Ram Kumar said in the preliminary investigation it was found that Joginder died of heart attack. The post-mortem report, however, is awaited. He said Joginder was among 20 people arrested on August 26 for violence after the dera head was held guilty.

DERA FOLLOWER SUCCUMBS TO INJURIES

In another incident, a dera follower, who was injured during clash on August 25 in Panchkula, succumbed to injuries on Wednesday.

The deceased has been identified as Krishan Kumar, a resident of Sajuma village of the district and an ex-armyman.Villagers, however, denied that he was a dera follower. Village sarpanch Jashvinder Singh said he had gone to Panchkula for some personal work. The body was cremated by the family. HTC