CHANDIGARH: Mohinderpal Singh alias Bittu, the main accused in the Bargari sacrilege case and follower of dera Sacha Sauda was today murdered in Nabha high security jail by two inmates facing murder charges. Punjab Chief Minsiter Capt Amarinder Singh has ordered probe into his murder and also asked DGP to beef up security in the state.
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Minister for jails has suspended Assistant Jail superintendent Ajmer Singh and ward incharge Major Singh and Aman Giri for negligence because Bittu was not allowed to move out of his cell due to security reasons. Randhawa has rushed ADGP jails Rohit Chaudhary to Nabha and sough his report on the incident.Late at night Jail Rohit Chaudhary, IGP Patiala zone A.S.Rai and Deputy Commissioner Patiala visited the jail. Rai said a case of murder was registered and accused were arrested.
Captain Amarinder said ADGP Prisons Rohit Chaudhary will head the fact-finding committee, which has been asked to submit the report within three days. The inquiry will be in addition to the mandatory judicial inquest into the murder of the accused, Mahinderpal Bittu, who was arrested last year.
The Chief Minister has ordered beefing up of security in the state in the wake of the attack, while appealing to all communities to maintain peace and not give in to rumours. Those involved in the attack would face punishment for the crime, he asserted.
The incident occurred around 5.15 pm, when Bittu was attacked by other inmates. He was rushed to Civil Hospital at Nabha, where he was declared brought dead, said official spokesperson.
Initial investigations have revealed that Bittu (49), a resident of Faridkot, was attacked by Gursewak Singh and Maninder Singh, who were in jail in a murder case.
Mohinderpal was allegedly part of conspiracy behind series of sacrilege cases for which Badal family is facing wrath of the Sikh community. He was arrested by SIT formed to probe Behbal Kalan police firing and Bargari sacrilege case. The murder of Bittu appeared to be a deep rooted conspiracy to eliminate vital evidence against Badal family in sacrilege cases.
SIT of Punjab police is investigating role of Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal in the sacrilege cases. The SIT has found that dera followers were inviolved in the sacrilege of Guru Granth Sahib having political support from the then ruling party.