Dera follower’s death in Sangrur leaves mystery

Deshraj (50), a follower of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, died under mysterious circumstances on Friday at Rajgarh Basti on the Sohian road, 2 kilometres from here.

Deshraj (50), a follower of Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, died under mysterious circumstances on Friday at Rajgarh Basti on the Sohian road, 2 kilometres from here.

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The cement store owner had left the house around 5am, and after a few minutes, some people informed the family that he lay unconscious on the street. The family moved him to the civil hospital at Sangrur, from where he was referred to Rajindra Hospital in Patiala. The family, however, took him to Amar Hosptial in Patiala, where the doctors declared him dead.

One of Deshraj’s close relatives said on the condition of anonymity that when moving the man to hospital, the family had read “16 Janvari yad rahugi” (Will remember January 16) written in Punjabi on his shirt with a red marker. The rest of the message was hard to read.

“We are not sure about the cause of death but the doctors have sent the viscera samples for analysis,” said Sangrur deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Gurpreet Singh. The family said Deshraj had no enemy. Inquest proceedings are on.