Hunt for man who commanded team of Dera guards held in city

During questioning, the accused claimed that Mitthu was in-charge of water management at the Dera

3 min readChandigarhSep 1, 2017 05:44 AM IST

Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Ram Rahim personal guards, Panchkula violence, Panchkula violence mastermind, indian express news

Sirsa: Policemen walk past a poster of Baba Ram Rahim while patrolling a street in Sirsa after the pronouncement of quantum of sentence for the Dera chief in the two rape cases against him, on Monday. (PTI/File Photo)

Dera Sacha Sauda head’s personal security guards, who were arrested for attempting to trigger violence by the Chandigarh Police, have told their interrogators that they were being commanded by one Mitthu. The accused have also revealed all of them did not know each other before coming to Panchkula on verdict day, but they were commanded by a management employee of dera, Mitthu.

“We took the accused to Sirsa twice on police remand to locate Mitthu, the person who commanded these guards. But on both occasions, we returned empty handed as we were not allowed to move inside the dera due to heavy force deployment and curfew still prevailing in Sirsa,” said Harminder Singh, SHO, Manimajra police station.

During the questioning, the accused claimed that Mitthu was in-charge of water management at the dera and worked under a committee of members. Interestingly, they said that they didn’t know him by any other name, and could only identify him by face.

Meanwhile, Rohit Kumar, the investigating officer in the case, said that the accused were produced before a local court on Thursday and sent to judicial custody. We have their vehicle, a Maruti Gypsy, in our custody which is registered in Dera Sacha Sauda’s name and clearly indicates that they belong to the dera. The arrested guards, identified as Dharmender, Anoop, Maninder Singh, Krishanpal, Sukhvinder, and a driver were held with an iron rod, 7.65 mm pistol, and 25 live cartridges recovered at the entry point of Chandigarh, near Mansa Devi Complex (MDC).

The accused told police they came as part of Ram Rahim’s cavalcade to Panchkula from Sirsa, and had plans to move to Chandigarh to fuel arson and violence. Kumar, meanwhile, said that all six have left their families and they visit home just once a year. While one of the accused, Sukhvinder from Tohana, has been disowned by his family after he got attached with dera. These security guards had met the dera chief just two times and were all commanded by a coordination committee at dera, added Kumar.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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