Bid to kill Bargari accused foiled: Cops

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, October 2

With the arrest of a person allegedly carrying two weapons, the police claimed to have foiled a plan to kill Dera Sacha Sauda follower Shakti Singh, who is an accused in three sacrilege cases of 2015.

Shakti Singh is believed to be on the target list of banned Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF). The arrested person has been identified as Bhola Singh, alias Khalsa, of Jeonwala village of Faridkot. He is facing as many as five criminal cases, including murder and extortion.

Security threat

  • The police had advised the dera followers to stay home in view of increased threat to their lives
  • Around 35 police officials are providing round-the-clock security to the dera followers and their families

The police had got a tip-off about the threat to the life of Shakti Singh after four KTF operatives were arrested and interrogated by the Moga police in May this year. These operatives were arrested by the police for the alleged killing of a dera follower in Bathinda last year.

Shakti Singh and five other dera followers were arrested by the police on May 16 this year. However, after Shakti Singh was released on bail on July 28, there were increased threats to his life.

After three suspicious persons visited Shakti Singh at his house in Daggo Romana village here, the police had registered a criminal case against three persons for trespass and theft attempt under Sections 449 and 511, IPC, on September 15. The police were on a high alert in view of increased threat perception.

On Saturday, the police arrested Bhola Singh when he was moving around the house of Shakti Singh.

The police were further investigating the case to trace the links of Bhola Singh, said Bal Krishan Singla, SP (D), Faridkot.

In view of increased threat perception to the lives of these dera followers and family members of late Mohinder Pal Bittu, the accused in the sacrilege incidents of 2015, the Faridkot police had tightened their security here some time back.

The police had advised the dera followers to stay home in view of increased threat to their lives. Around 35 police officials are providing round-the-clock security to the dera followers and their families.

Dera men ‘target’

Dera Sacha Sauda follower Shakti Singh is believed to be on the target list of banned Khalistan Tiger Force. The arrested person has been identified as Bhola Singh, alias Khalsa, of Jeonwala village of Faridkot.

Bid to kill Bargari accused foiled: Cops
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