Dera chief escorted to Sirsa

Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh arrived here on Monday in a chartered helicopter that landed at 12.25 pm on the helipad in the Dera premises.

Considering the volatility of the situation after the Mumbai incident, a youth was killed and two others injured when his bodyguard opened fire on Sikh protesters on Friday, the district administration and the police had already summoned a few companies of the Rapid Action Force and other paramilitary forces for protection.

Security on all roads leading to the Dera and other sensitive spots in the district has been beefed up. Deputy Commissioner V Umashankar and SP Venkata Ramana told media persons that peace and communal harmony would be maintained at all costs.

Judicial probe demand
Members of the Shiromani Gurudwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) met with Deputy Chief Minister RR Patil in Mumbai on Sunday and submitted a memorandum asking for a judicial enquiry into the indiscriminate firing and beating up of the Sikh youth in Nirmal Lifestyles and banning the entry of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in Maharashtra.

They also asked that a lenient view be taken of the cases lodged against the youth who were involved in the protests as it was an emotional outburst.

“You can tolerate anything but mockery of your guru. When provoked one will react and that was a spontaneous reaction,” said Jathedar Avtar Singh Makkad, SGPC president. He added: “The Shiv Sena should not forget that the Sikhs have always strived for the development of Maharashtra. We are law-abiding individuals and do not want the Sena chief to be bitter.”