Shooting down the truth

WAS Ram Chander Chhatrapati, editor of a local evening newspaper at Sirsa, killed two years ago for exposing the alleged misdeeds of a relig...

WAS Ram Chander Chhatrapati, editor of a local evening newspaper at Sirsa, killed two years ago for exposing the alleged misdeeds of a religious cult? His family and readers say events leading to his death indicate involvement of Dera Sachha Sauda. But the Central Bureau of Investigation is yet to come out with its version.

It has been over five months since the CBI got a green signal to go ahead with its investigation. The probe had, in fact, been ordered in November 2003 on Chhatrapati8217;s son Anshul8217;s petition in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. But the Dera moved the Supreme Court against the order. Its petition was later dismissed.

RAM Chander Chhatrapati, editor of Poora Sach at Sirsa in Haryana was shot at his residence allegedly by two followers of Dera Sachha Sauda in October 2002. Chhatrapati had published a letter sent by a sadhavi of the Dera to then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, complaining of sexual harassment by Gurmeet Singh, the head of the Dera.

Dera Sachha Sauda, established in 1948 at Sirsa, claims to have over a crore followers across Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi and Chandigarh.

Says Chhatrapati8217;s son Anshul, who now heads the newspaper: 8216;8216;At 7.45 pm two followers of Dera Sachha Sauda, Nirmal Singh and Kuldeep Singh came to our house and called out to my father. He went out and after a minute or so we heard gunshots. Five shots were fired, of which four hit my father. I ran out and saw my father lying in a pool of blood. Both the accused ran in away. They were caught by the police within hours of the incident. My father was admitted to a hospital at Rohtak where he died after 28 days.8217;8217;

Chronology of a killing

8226; After Chhatrapati published a
sadhvi8217;s letter to the PM, alleging harassment, he began receiving threats from the Dera
8226; In July 2002 he wrote to Sirsa8217;s SP, requesting security. He
never got any
8226; In September 2002, taking
cognizance of the complaint made by the sadhvi, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered
a CBI probe
8226; On October 24, 2002, two
followers of the Dera allegedly shot Chhatrapati outside his home

Another accused, Kishan Lal, then president of the Dera Sachha Sauda8217;s committee, too was later arrested. 8216;8216;It was Kishan Lal8217;s licensed revolver that was used by the killers,8217;8217; says Anshul.

While Nirmal Singh and Kuldeep Singh are still in judicial custody, Kishan Lal was granted bail last year.

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CHHATRAPATI8217;S family has won the battle to get a CBI probe but it8217;s only a battle half won. 8216;8216;We don8217;t know if the CBI has even begun its probe yet. Nobody from the CBI has come to us yet to ask us anything,8217;8217; says Anshul.

While Chhatrapati8217;s family waits for justice, the people of Sirsa are waiting to find the real truth of what lies beyond the Dera8217;s gates.