Arrest warrant against Dera chief

New Delhi: A court in Bhatinda, Punjab, has issued an arrest warrant against Baba Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, head of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, for hurting Sikhs.

Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate A L Kitchi issued a warrant on the basis of a May 20 case registered against Gurmeet. The police would have to take the Punjab government’s permission before arresting him.

Gurmeet is accused of blaspheming the Sikh religion by dressing up as Guru Gobind Singh in newspapers ads in May.

Gurmeet on Wednesday sent a letter to Sikh leaders who were meeting in Chandigarh to their strategy after the court’s order. Sources said the letter received by Paramjit Singh Sarna, president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee, was not signed.

After the court’s order, Dera leaders were meeting in their headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana.

The Sikh community’s Sant Samaj leaders have been protesting at Mohali near Chandigarh since Tuesday seeking Gurmeet’s arrest.

The Dera chief had apologised to Sikh gurus for his "unintentional act" in May after the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, issued a deadline to his sect to disband in Punjab by May 27.

The Sikh leadership also asked Sikhs to socially boycott the Dera head and his sect followers, who are estimated to be nearly 2 million in Punjab.

Close to 500 Sikhs on Tuesday threatened to court arrest at Chandigarh demanding action against Gurmeet.

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