CHANDIGARH: Around 300-400 followers of the Dera had over the years scattered ashes of their relatives after their cremation inside the sect headquarters, spread over 700 acres in Sirsa, as part of “rituals”, a senior Dera functionary has told a Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Haryana Police.
Dr P R Nain, senior vice chairperson of the Dera was interrogated by the SIT late on Tuesday evening in Sirsa.
SP Sirsa Ashwin Senvi said, “This has come up in the investigation and we are probing this. If there is any malafide intention, action will be taken as per law.” “Nain placed on record that 300-400 followers had scattered the ashes of their kin on the premises over many years. The Dera maintained addresses and other contact details of such people, which Nain showed us,” said Dabwali DSP Kuldeep Singh Beniwal.
Also during the questioning, Nain reportedly told the police that the remains of the deceased were buried by the families and they did it out of faith so that it will accord salvation (moksha) to the departed soul. Nain gave the list of people who have been buried in the Dera to the SIT.
Police sources said some of the people who were earlier associated with the Dera but have now left it claimed that Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the Dera chief who has been sentenced to 20 years imprisonment for raping two disciples, got those who opposed his activities killed and their bodies were buried inside the campus of the Dera. However, no one knows about the whereabouts of these people.
One of those who raised such an allegation was Khatta Singh, former driver of Ram Rahim. Khatta Singh alleged that a teenager called Gora Singh was shot dead in the Dera on the direction of Ram Rahim and his body was buried inside the campus. Khatta Singh was the driver of Ram Rahim for nine years.
G5 crore sent to Panchkula
As much as `5 crore cash had reached Panchkula before August 25. This money was to be used to trigger violence if Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted. Police sources said a close aide of the Dera, Chamkur Singh, told during questioning that the money was brought to the city to spark violence. The police have recovered `24.80 lakh from Singh.
Hunt for Honeypreet
Patrolling has been stepped up along the Indo-Nepal border in Maharajganj and adjoining districts in Uttar Pradesh to nab Ram Rahim’s adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan. Police said officials from central and state intelligence agencies have been camping in Maharajganj and keeping a strict vigil on movement along the border. Honeypreet has been booked in Haryana for allegedly inciting violence following the conviction of Ram Rahim.