Teenaged Sacha Sauda follower immolates self

Bathinda, Sep 7 (UNI) A teenaged Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda follower today immolated herself at her home in Poohli village in the district, police here said.

The victim identified as Prabhjot Kaur (19), who suffered severe burn injuries was rushed to the civil hospital here, but was refered to the DMC hospital in Ludhiana. She died while on the way to Ludhiana.

The brother of the victim, Hardip Singh in his statement to the police claimed that his sister was disturbed ever since Dera followers began to be targeted by supporters of various Sikh organisations. He claimed that it was due to this reason that she committed suicide.

However the village residents in their statements claimed that not a single follower of the Sirsa-based sect in the village was ever threatened. They pointed out that three non-Dera supporters came to the rescue of the victim when they heard her cries for help.

SSP Naunihal Singh who visited the village said that the matter was being investigated. Ever since violence erupted between Sikh and Dera supporters, two residents of Bathinda have so far immolated themselves. Both died in hospital.

UNI