Surge in number of ‘premis’ visiting dera centres in Rohtak

› Before Honeypreet’s release, 40 to 50 followers used to come for Sunday prayers at all four centres in the district. After November 6, the number went up to 160. SHISPAL, Rohtak centre in-charge

ROHTAK: After Honeypreet Insan, the adopted daughter of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, got bail in the 2017 Panchkula rioting case last week, the number of followers coming to naam charcha ghar (congregation centres) here has increased, said Shispal, in-charge of dera’s Rohtak’s centre.

He said about 160 premis (dera followers) have been coming for satsang since the release of Honeypreet.

“Before her release, 40 to 50 followers used to come for Sunday prayers at all four centres in the district. After November 6, more dera followers started visiting the congregation centres across the state. The November-12 function organised in Sirsa to mark the birth anniversary of sect founder Shah Mastana Balochistani had witnessed a large gathering,” the centre’s in-charge added.

54-year-old Nardeb Singh from Bohar village of the district said he had been attending the satsang every Sunday for the past 19 years. “After Gurmeet Ram Rahim went to jail in 2017, many of his followers stopped visiting the centres, but Honeypreet’s release from prison has infused in them confidence,” he added.

Honeypreet had got a rousing welcome at Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa on the night she was released. Sect followers had raised slogans and burst firecrackers as Honeypreet reached the Sirsa headquarters.

Top dera functionaries, including Honeypreet Insan, dera spokesperson Aditya Insan and other core committee members were booked in connection with the Panchkula case.