Dera chief arrives in Sirsa

Amidst protests by Sikhs at several places in the country seeking the arrest of Baba Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh, the Dera Sacha Sauda chief arrived at his sect headquarters in Sirsa on Monday afternoon with tight security put in place by the district authorities.

The Dera chief flew to New Delhi from Mysore on Monday and then took a chartered helicopter, which landed at the helipad inside the his sect headquarters.

The head of the Haryana-based sect, which has earned the wrath of the Sikh clergy, got into a fresh row after a youth was killed and two others injured when his bodyguard opened fire on Sikh protesters in Mumbai on Friday.

The district civil and police administration, considering the volatile and sensitive situation in the aftermath of the Mumbai incident and the eruption of violence at several places, have beefed up the security around the Dera by deploying additional security personnel.

Additional companies of the Rapid Action Force and paramilitary forces, summoned by the administration, have been deployed at various places in the district.

Security on all roads leading to the Dera and areas in its close proximity besides at other sensitive spots in the district has been beefed up.

Deputy Commissioner V Umashankar and Superintendent of Police Venkata Raman talking to media persons in Sirsa appealed for peace and harmony. No one would be allowed to take the law into his hands, they added.

No Dera official was available for ascertaining details about the future programme of the Dera chief, who does not interact with the media.