1 dead as Dera chief’s bodyguard fires in mall

There was a scuffle between the Dera followers and the Sikh protestors outside the mall. Baba’s bodyguard fired to disperse the crowd, injuring one person, the police said.

The victim succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to a nearby hospital.

The Dera chief left the mall soon after, but his motorcade was stopped in the jurisdiction of the Khopoli police station in neighbouring Raigad district. He, however, claimed his men had not fired.

As the news spread, members of the Sikh community, including women and children, came out and blocked the main road outside the mall, demanding arrest of the Baba and his bodyguard.

ACP Sadanad Date said, “A team from Mulund has been sent to catch the man who shot dead one and injured two. We will reconstruct the whole episode after he is arrested. We have already filed a case of murder.”