High alert in Punjab, Haryana after attack on Dera Chief's cavalcade

Chandigarh, Feb 3 : Haryana and Punjab have been put on high alert after an attack on Dera Sacha Sauda chief Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's cavalcade in Karnal district last evening.

Though Baba Rahim was escaped unhurt, eight people, including six security men were injured in the attack. The Haryana Additional Director General of Police, V.B. Singh, has said that unidentified persons from a truck passing by the Dera Chief's cavalcade hurled a tyre packed with explosives at it.

On Saturday, some followers of Baba Rahim had blocked National Highway- 1 at Manakmajra near the Karnal-Kurukshetra border to protest against the blast.

Baba Rahim is alleged to have murdered a Dera manager Ranjit Singh and a Sirsa journalist Ram Chander Chatterpati, and alleged to have sexually assaulted a woman disciple. The Dera chief had sparked a huge uproar by the Sikhs a few months back after he allegedly tried to imitate the dress and activities of the Guru Gobind Singh. He had tendered an apology, saying he had no intention of hurting the sentiments of the Sikhs, but the Sikh clerics had rejected his apology.

ANI