Dera Sacha Sauda follower shot dead

Dera Sacha Sauda follower shot dead 
Rajay Deep
Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 28
Four unidentified motorcycle-borne youths shot dead a Dera Sacha Sauda follower after firing five bullets at him near village Chukerian in Mansa district today.
A special investigation team (SIT) has been constituted to enquire into the case.
According to information available, the Dera follower, Lili Kumar (42), of village Alampur Mandra (Mansa), was on his way back home after appearing in a criminal case at the sessions court.
Intercepting his motorcycle near village Chukerian, four unidentified youths shot five bullets at him and fled.
An eyewitness to the incident immediately informed the police. He was rushed to the Civil Hospital in Mansa, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Till late in the evening, Dera followers did not give any statement to the police, for which police was waiting to get the postmortem conducted.
Sources informed that the deceased was a member of the district committee of the Dera Sacha Sauda. During a Dera-Sikh incident in the past, a mob had set his house on fire.
About his court appearance, sources informed that in September 2007, Lili Kumar was an accused in a cross case of attempt to murder, which was registered after violence took place between Dera followers and Sikhs over holding Naam Charcha, the religious discourse of the Dera Sacha Sauda.
The deceased is survived by his wife and three children. He was posted as patwari in canal department, at Khudi Kalan village in Barnala. He was also said to be the kin of a Congress leader of Bareta town.
Confirming the facts, SSP Mansa Manminder Singh said, "We are ready to register a case but the Dera followers are not coming forward to lodge the complaint as they are firm about breaking their silence only after taking a collective decision, for which they are holding a meeting."
"Meanwhile, we have constituted the SIT comprising the SP (D), DSP, in-charge CIA staff and the SHO, Sadar police station, to investigate the case in depth. Till now, no evidence of personal enmity has come to light."

Raids begin to nab culprits: DIG

Bathinda: The DIG Faridkot Range, Jitendra Jain said that anyone involved in the shooting incident would not be spared.
He said that eleven teams of police have already started raiding various places to nab the culprits. He said forensic experts have also reached the spot to assist the police in the investigations. — TNS