Dera chief opens fire, one killed, woman injured

A youth was killed and a woman injured in Jalandhar after a Dera head allegedly opened fire on angry dalits.

A youth was killed and a woman injured in the district on Tuesday after a Dera head allegedly opened fire on angry dalits objecting to his “derogatory” remarks against Valmiki.

The incident happened this afternoon in Baloki village when Gursharan Das, head of Dera Baba Budh Das was reciting the Ramayana and allegedly made derogatory remarks against Valmiki, angering the dalits, police said.

Sensing trouble, Das then opened fire from his revolver which struck a dalit youth, they said.

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A youth identified as Mani, 16, was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead, sources said, a woman identified as Usha Rani was also injured in the incident.

After the incident people ransacked the dera and started pelting stones. Senior police officials rushed to the spot and rescued Das from public wrath.

The situation was brought under control only after two and-a-half hours, when Baba was formally arrested by the police and this was conveyed to the public by Pawan Kumar Rai, Senior Superintendent of Police himself.