Daduwal, 56 others freed unconditionally

Daduwal, 56 others freed unconditionally
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal interacts with mediapersons at Gurdwara Jandalisar in Bathinda district on Tuesday. Tribune photo: Pawan Sharma

Bathinda, January 4
All 57 radical Sikhs, including Sant Baljit Singh Daduwal, a hardline Sikh preacher, who were arrested by the Mansa Police on Sunday, were released today.
Acting upon the state government’s directions, the police released all of them unconditionally and even initiated a process to withdraw the case. “This has been done in the interest of the state as the government wants to restore normalcy,” said Mansa SSP Hardyal Singh Mann. However, finding tension prevailing, curfew was kept in force at Bhikhi town for the third consecutive day with a relaxation of three hours twice.
Daduwal, along with 11 others, was taken into preventive custody on Sunday morning from Gurdwara Jandalisar as his “objectionable remarks” had created uneasiness among followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda on Saturday. Irked over his arrest, his followers had clashed with the police at Bhikhi town on the same day. Later, the police arrested 45 of his followers from the spot and booked them under Sections 307 and 353 of the IPC on Sunday. In the case, over 100 unidentified persons were also included but they could not be arrested.
Facing the prospect of statewide protests, the state government today directed the district administration to order their unconditional release. Following this, Daduwal, along with his 11 followers, was released from the Ferozepur Central Jail at 2 am today. To ensure that they do not go anywhere else, the Mansa Police escorted them to Gurdwara Jandalisar in Bathinda at 4 am.
After a couple of hours, Daduwal held a press conference at the gurdwara and gave an ultimatum that if his followers lodged in the Bathinda Central Jail were not released till January 6, the Sant Samaj and other Sikh organisations would hold a joint meeting and chalk out an aggressive course of action. “It is quite surprising that without any evidence, the police arrested me and then without asking for a bail bond, released me. I ask bureaucrats as well as politicians to decide whether I am guilty or not and stop this drama of arrest and release,” he said.
“As I am out of jail now, I will do my best to build pressure on the government. If they think I will sit quiet, it’s their misconception,” said Daduwal. Ironically, after some time, the Mansa Police called up Daduwal that they were about to release all 45 of his followers from the Bathinda Central Jail unconditionally. Following this, Daduwal, along with a large number of followers, reached the jail and received his followers. Talking to the media, Daduwal said the government had succumbed to the pressure that they all be released. Meanwhile, he announced to hold a religious congregation in Sangrur district from January 7-9.
“Though the government is doing its best to foil our attempts, we are committed to hold it at any cost,” he said. He also accused the government of dancing to the tunes of the Dera Sacha Sauda to seek votes in the next Assembly elections.
Targeting the Jathedar of Akal Takht, Daduwal said, “We have been struggling to get the edict issued by Akal Takht against the Dera Sacha Sauda. But neither the ruling party, which claims to be a Panthic party, nor anyone else, including the SGPC, seems interested in it. If Akal Takht is unable to implement it, the edict must be taken back,” he added.