Dera follower, accused in 2015 Bargari sacrilege case, shot dead in Punjab’s Faridkot

The text further read that whoever disrespects any religion, will meet the same fate. “The Hindu-Sikh brothers have taken this revenge together because Guru Sahib is common to all,” read the social media post.

The post also apologised for the injury to the security personnel but also questions the need to provide security to people accused of sacrilege.

Police officials, however, said they can neither deny nor confirm the claim made by Brar.

Pardeep, who was arrested in May last year, was out on bail and had been provided two security personnel.

The incident was caught on CCTV installed nearby. Two of the assailants arrived first and parked their motorcycles at some distance. Later four more arrived on two bikes. The two who had arrived reached Pardeep’s shop and opened fire at him and immediately ran back. According to police, Pardeep’s gunman Hakam Singh retaliated following which the other other assailants waiting outside also opened fire. Several shots were fired in which Hakam Singh and a former municipal councillor Amar Singh who was standing nearby sustained bullet injuries.

After committing the crime, the assailants fled on two motorcycles, leaving behind the third. Police later recovered two motorcycles from Bajakhana area, around 20 km from Kotkapura.

CCTB footage of crime pic.twitter.com/Jh5uysefVz

— Kamaldeep Singh ਬਰਾੜ (@kamalsinghbrar) November 10, 2022

“Punjab is a peace-loving state and mutual brotherhood is very strong here. No one will be allowed to disturb peace of Punjab. Police and general administration have been given strict instructions to maintain peace in the state,” Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said in a tweet.

ਪੰਜਾਬ ਇੱਕ ਅਮਨ ਪਸੰਦ ਸੂਬਾ ਹੈ ਇੱਥੇ ਲੋਕਾਂ ਦਾ ਆਪਸੀ ਭਾਈਚਾਰਾ ਬਹੁਤ ਮਜ਼ਬੂਤ ਹੈ..ਕਿਸੇ ਨੂੰ ਵੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਦੀ ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਭੰਗ ਕਰਨ ਦੀ ਇਜ਼ਾਜਤ ਨਹੀਂ ਦਿੱਤੀ ਜਾਵੇਗੀ ..ਸੂਬੇ ਦੀ ਅਮਨ-ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਕਾਇਮ ਰੱਖਣ ਲਈ ਸਿਵਲ ਅਤੇ ਪੁਲਿਸ ਅਧਿਕਾਰੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਨਿਰਦੇਸ਼ ..

— Bhagwant Mann (@BhagwantMann) November 10, 2022

Pardeep was an accused in the case of theft of a ‘bir’ (copy) of the Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village in June 2015 and also in a case linked to torn pages of the Sikh holy book being found scattered in Bargari in October that year in Faridkot. The anger over the incident later became one of the prime reasons for the ouster of SAD-BJP alliance government in Punjab in 2017, and inaction in the case turned out to be a big factor in voting out of the Congress government in 2022.

Pardeep Singh’s killing came days after the November 4 murder of Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri in Amritsar. Both the victims had police protection.

Pardeep had been assigned three security personnel by the Pnjab Police, but only one was with him when the incident took place. “One person had gone to washroom while the other hadn’t arrived by then,” said Hakam Singh.

Based on a complaint by Pardeep’s wife Simran Kaur, an FIR has been lodged against unknown persons on charges of murder, attempt to murder, rioting with deadly weapon, unlawful assembly and under relevant sections of the Arms Act. Simran mentioned in the FIR that she runs a boutique adjacent to Pradeep’s shop and was present at the spot when the incident took place. She mentioned that a relative, Hardeep Singh Insaan, too was present. “Hardeep and I can identify all the accused by face,” she added.

Later, talking to reporters Simran claimed that her family had firm belief in the Guru Granth Sahib and they respect all religions. “Nothing had been proven against my husband,” said Simran.

Pardeep is survived by his parents, wife and three children.

His father Jaspal Singh alias Sadhu said the family was a follower of Dera Sacha Sauda. “I have performed Anand Karaj of all my five children. We cannot even think of sacrilege of the Guru Granth Sahib,” he said.

Meanwhile, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Arpit Shukla sais, “Investigation into the case is going on. We have launched a manhunt to nab the assailants.”

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann called a meeting of senior police officials and directed them to crack the case at the earliest. He also appealed to the people of the state to maintain peace.

Director General of Police (Home Guards) Sanjiv Kalra, replying to a question on Brar claiming responsibility for the murder, said, “All is under investigation.”

Several senior officers including ADGP Shukla and Inspector General of Police (Faridkot Range) Pradeep Kumar Yadav visited the crime spot and took stock of the situation. A forensic team also collected samples of bullet shells. Later, the post-mortem examination of Pardeep Singh’s body was conducted.

Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav urged people to maintain peace and harmony in the state.

Update on murder of Sacrilege accused: The situation is under control and I urge people to maintain peace and harmony in the state.@PunjabPoliceInd is doing proper investigation

Request citizens not to panic or spread fake news or any hate speech.

— DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) November 10, 2022

“The situation is under control and I urge people to maintain peace and harmony in the state. Request citizens not to panic or spread fake news or any hate speech,” the DGP said in a tweet.

Speaking to reporters, IGP Pradeep Yadav said police have got some leads and are working on them. He said the assailants will be arrested soon. Police are also examining the CCTV footage of the incident.

Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda sought a high-level probe into the murder. Its spokesperson Jitendra Khurana condemned the incident and appealed to its followers to maintain peace and harmony.

Pardeep was among six dera followers who were arrested in May, 2021 in connection with an FIR lodged in October 2015, soon after the sacrilege incident, and another on August 7, 2018 on the basis of report of Justice Ranjit Singh commission. All had been released on bail in July last year and had been security cover.