Dera violence: Punjab Police arrests one of main accused
SANGRUR (Punjab): The Punjab Police on Monday claimed to have arrested one of the main accused who allegedly triggered violence and arson in the state following the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Duni Chand, who had gone underground after the incidents of violence, was nabbed near village Gujjran in Sangrur by a police team, Sangrur SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said here. Also, a car, Rs 1.70 lakh in cash, red chilly powder and literature related to Dera Sacha Sauda were also recovered from his possession, he added.
Police said that days ahead of the CBI court's verdict in rape cases against Ram Rahim Singh, an eight member "youth brigade" was formed to trigger violence in Punjab if the judgement goes against the Dera chief. During investigation, police came to know about the alleged conspiracy to spread arson and riots in Punjab following Dera chief 's conviction.
About 28 incidents of arson, damage to state, central government offices or properties in seven districts of the Malwa region were reported.
The SSP said that Duni Chand, during interrogation laid bare the conspiracy, told police that one Rakesh Kumar, who was closely connected with the Dera, allegedly formed an eight member "youth brigade" called the "A -team" to set in violence in Punjab after the verdict of special CBI court in Panchkula went against Ram Rahim Singh. CHANDIGARH: Weapons, including double barrel and single barrel guns and pistols, have been deposited by followers of Sirsa headquartered Dera Sacha Sauda, the Haryana Police said on Monday. Over 30 rifles and pistols along with live cartridges have been deposited with Sirsa police authorities.
"A total of 33 licensed arms including single barrel, double barrel guns and 9 mm pistols have been deposited by Dera followers," Sirsa Sadar police SHO Dinesh Kumar said over phone. SRINAGAR: Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants, including a self-styled divisional commander of the outfit, were today gunned down by security forces in Sopore township of north Kashmir's Baramulla district, the police said.
Acting on specific information about the presence of militants in the Check-e-brath area of Sopore, security forces launched a cordon and search operation this morning, a police spokesperson said.
During searches, the militants who were hiding in the area opened fire on the security personnel, who retaliated, resulting in an encounter.
Two Hizbul Mujahideen militants were killed in the gunfight. They were later identified as Pervaiz Ahmad Wani of Galoora Handwara and Naeem Ahmad Najar of Shelpora Brad, Sopore, he said.
Wani was the divisional commander of the outfit for north Kashmir.
Two AK assault rifles, three AK magazines, 90 AK rounds, one INSAS rifle, one INSAS magazine, 13 INSAS rounds and other items were seized from the encounter site, the police spokesperson said.
He said the two militants were involved in many "anti- national and anti-social activities".
Wani was involved in serial blasts that targeted mobile towers in the area in 2015, the killing of two police personnel in Handwara market in 2013 and an attack on the Langate police post last year, he said.