ONE GANG BEHIND ALL POLITICAL KILLINGS IN PUNJAB: DGP

LUDHIANA: Linking the dera double murder with other major political killings in the state in past one year, the Punjab director general of police (DGP), law and order, on Wednesday said the same “gang” was behind the assassination of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s Punjab vice-president Jagdish Gagneja, Sri Hindu Takht leader Amit Sharma, Shiv Sena leader Durga Gupta and Dera Sacha Sauda followers Satpal and Ramesh.

DGP Hardeep Singh Dhillon told HT that police have sufficient circumstantial proof and technical inputs to establish that one gang is behind all these crimes. “The police, however, have been investigating the matter from all aspects,” he said.

Dhillon said terrorists with the help of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have been operating from abroad. “They want to disturb law and order situation in Punjab. Punjab Police is well equipped and prepared to deal with such threats. It is the same Punjab Police that eradicated terrorism from the state (in late 1980s).” said the DGP.

Dhillon said a special investigation team (SIT) comprising experienced officers has already started the probe and is very close to arresting killers of the dera followers.

“After the incident at Jagera, the police have beefed up security at all congregation centres of Dera Sacha Sauda across Punjab,” he said, adding that family of the deceased had not demanded any security.