<![CDATA[SANGRUR: The district police today claimed to have arrested two Dera followers one of whom is a member of the "A" team of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh that had been constituted to spread violence across the Malwaregion in case of a hostile verdict by the CBI court at Panchkula against Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. The accused and had tried to instigate other followers and spread violence after the August 25 verdict. According to Mr. Mandeep Singh Sidhu, SSP the police had arrested one Duni Chand and Ranjit Singh, who had planned to set various government properties in and around the district on fire on August 25. During the police probe, it came to light that one Rakesh Kumar, who lives in the Sirsa dera and was working in tandem with the Dera Chief, had constituted an eight-member "A "team to spread violence in the Malwa area of Punjab. Duni Chand was a member of that team and was getting direct instructions from Rakesh and passing these to Ranjit Singh, who circulated the same among other Dera followers. Duni Chand was arrested on Sunday night from near Gujra village in the district. The police took into possession a car and seized Rs 1.7 lakh in cash, pepper sprays and some Dera literature. This was followed by the arrest of Ranjit Singh. According to Mr. Sidhu SSP the police were now trying to track down the other members of the local team constituted by Duni Chand and Ranjit Singh, who are still absconding. These include Major Singh of Mansa, Balwinder Singh and Gurdev Singh of Bathinda, Prithi Chand of Bagha Purana, Mahinderpal Singh Bittu of Kotkapura, Gurdas Singh of Kot Bhai of Bathinda and Gurjit Singh of Moga. He told that these members of the team had specific instruction from Rakesh to form splinter groups in the Malwa region and spread violence at the first instance of an adverse verdict against Ram Rahim. During interrogation, Duni and Ranjit told the police that they had held a meeting with Rakesh on August 17 and received instruction to remain prepared for violence. Surprisingly, Ranjit Singh remained at the forefront of interactions with the local administration by the Dera followers. On August 23, just two days prior to the conviction of the Dera head and the subsequent violence, Ranjit had even interacted with the Mr. Sidhu, SSP at Police Lines, during which an appeal to maintain peace had been made by the district authorities. According to Mr.Sidhu ,SSP so far 14 cases against Dera followers had been registered for damaging properties in the district and a total of 59 arrests have been made and 22 motorcycles and three cars have been impounded.]]>
