Bakhshish Singh
Karnal/Haryana (September 14, 2012): According to information available with Sikh Siyasat Bakhshish Singh alias Baba and six others were held guilty by a local court on September 12, 2012 in a four-year-old case of an attempt to kill the Dera Sauda Sirsa head. On February 2, 2012 a cavalcade of dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was attacked by a bomb on the GT Road at Neelokheri near Karnal.
Dera head had reportedly escaped the attack unhurt but his two followers were said to have sustained injuries after the assailants missed the targeted vehicle.
Dera head Gurmeet Ram Raheem had organized a function in Salabatpura (District Bathinda) in 2007 where he personified himself as Tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh Ji. He attempted to dishonour the Sikh Personification traditions, history and ceremony of Amrit Sanchar. Personification of Sikh Gurus is strictly prohibited in Sikh religion. Besides this Dera Head is facing many serious criminal charges, including murder and rape charges.
Sikhs protested against dera head and demanded strong action from the Government but the Indian state patronised the dera head and he was accorded with “Z Plus” security.
After failure of state to put law in action against the Dera had his conclave was attacked on February 02, 2008.
On September 12, 2012 the Additional and Sessions Judge Ravi Kumar sentenced Bakhshish Singh, Swaran Singh and Mohinder Singh to 10-year imprisonment under Section 3 of the Explosive Substances Act.
Others including Gurinder Singh (Patiala), Hoshiar Singh (Jhandakalan, Mansa), Dharminder Singh (UP) and Jaswant Singh alias Jassa were sentenced to five years’ imprisonment.
The judge has also imposed a fine of Rs. 5,000 each.
Meanwhile Bibi Praveen Kaur of Patiala, was acquitted by the court as the prosecution failed to prove any of the charges against her.