FEROZEPUR, Punjab—The Punjab police have announced bounty worth Rupees 5 million in the recent murder case of Sacha Sauda supporters in Punjab. Two Sirsa cult disciples were shot dead on February 25 at village Jageda near Ahmedgarh (on Ludhiana-Malerkotla highway) by two masked assailants. The police have also announced to award Sub-Inspector level post in Punjab police to whoever will provide information about the killers of cult disciples Satpal Sharma and his son Ramesh Sharma.
Speaking with Sikh24 on March 4, the Ludhiana range Deputy Inspector General Surinder Kumar Kalia informed that a high level investigation committee has been constituted to unearth the killing episode. He added that the CCTV footage of nearby places have been taken under possession by the Police and the investigation team was working hard to bring the culprits to justice.
DIG Kalia further said that it seems like the killers of Sirsa cult disciples were same who had murdered RSS’ Vice-Chief of Punjab Jagdish Gagneja last year in August.
It is pertinent to note here that the Punjab police had announced the same bounty and other rewards in the murder case of Jagdish Gagneja but the police couldn’t unearth the murder mystery.
Police have recovered cartridges of .32 revolver from the incident spot.
The Director General of Police (Punjab) Suresh Arora tried to connect the incident by terming it as an offshoot amid the ongoing conflict between the Sirsa cult and Sikh community.
Earlier, Malaudh Station House Officer (SHO) Ravinder Kumar did not subscribe to the view that Sikh activists were behind the murders. “It may be a case of personal rivalry because the killers targeted only Satpal and his son, and did not hurt the other cult followers at the spot,” said Kumar.
It has come to fore that hours before the Khanna shooting incident, a congregation of Sirsa cult was also disrupted at Makhu town in Zira sub-division of Ferozepur district.
It is pertinent to note here that the congregations of Sirsa cult were banned in Punjab in 2007 after the violent clashes between Sikhs and cult followers. Sirsa cult chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim had hurt the Sikh sentiments in May-2007 by wearing attire like tenth Sikh master Guru Gobind Singh Ji. An edict was issued from the Supreme Sikh throne Sri Akal Takht Sahib directing Sikh masses to socially boycott Sirsa cult head and its followers.
Recently, the Shiromani Akali Dal led Punjab government had ensured the Sirsa cult to lift ban over its congregations in Punjab in return of cult’s support to SAD-BJP candidates in the assembly polls.