For this transport company worker, a visit to the mall proved fatal

An innocuous visit to a shopping mall proved fatal for Balkar Singh Bhatti, who worked in a transport company and was allegedly shot dead by security guards of Dera Sacha Sauda...

An innocuous visit to a shopping mall proved fatal for Balkar Singh Bhatti, who worked in a transport company and was allegedly shot dead by security guards of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Friday night.

According to the police complaint by his friend Amarjit Singh Sandhu, who was also injured in the firing, the dera chief was already in the mall when Balkar arrived there. When they tried to enter the mall, they got into an altercation with members of the Baba’s convoy.

Balkar and Amarjit got back into their car and were trying to leave when they were allegedly intercepted by a vehicle in the convoy carrying the three arrested men. The three, along with others in the convoy, smashed the windows of their vehicle with sticks.

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News of the dera chief’s presence in the area had spread by then and a large Sikh crowd gathered. Balkar and Amarjit had got out of their vehicle when the accused allegedly opened fire at them. Two bullets hit Balkar and he died of his injuries at the Mulund general hospital.

The dera chief’s convoy sped away in the direction of Khalapur, according to the complaint.

Singh lived with his wife Darshan Kaur and nephew Jasbir Singh. His funeral will be held on Monday after his relatives reach Mumbai. His parents and three bothers live in Amritsar.

The SGPC has announced Rs 5 lakh for the family of Singh.

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