As the Dera Sacha Sauda sect followers' five-day deadline to Punjab Police to arrest the culprits of father-son murderers ended on Monday, the Sikh Students' Federation has claimed responsibility" of the murder.
The Federation has e-mailed a single page Press statement, on Sikh Students' Federation letter-head, to the selected media houses under the signatures of its convener Jasmeet Singh.
Satpal Sharma and his son Ramesh Kumar, both the followers of Haryana-based Dera, were gunned down by two masked men on February 25 inside Naam Charcha Ghar Canteen at Jaghera village near Malerkotla. The assailants had succeeded in fleeing from the spot even as they were caught on CCTV camera installed on the premises.
The statement, the authenticity of which is doubtful as the letter head does not contain any address or phone number, claimed that it was the same Sikh Students' Federation which had on the instructions of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale sacrificed lives under the leadership of Bhai Amrik Singh.
It also claimed that the Dera followers and police had targeted several innocent Sikhs and many others were tortured and jailed which forced the Federation to act.
The statement added, "Badal father-son duo, for the sake of votes and power, and Indian Agencies may try their best but if the incidents of sacrilege of Sri Guru Granth Sahib and the violation of Sikh tenets were not stopped, the 'Panth Baiters' would be taught lesson like this only".
It concluded with an appeal to people running 'Sikh Students' Federation' for the sake of their own 'roti-pani' that fearing 'akal purakh', they should shun their ego and lust for power and honestly contribute to the cause of panth. "The organisation would continue its efforts to achieve the goal of Khalistan," it added.
Reacting, All India Sikh Students' Federation has demanded high-level probe in the said "statement" issued under the name of Jasmit Singh saying that it appeared to be fake.
Its convener Karnail Singh Peermohammad alleged that the motive behind it seemed to vitiate the atmosphere in Punjab. He reiterated that the AISSF strongly condemned such killings.
Even after 10 days of the incident, police are groping in the dark, even as it had promised the protesting Dera followers that the culprits would be arrested within five days - the deadline finishing on Monday.
Irate Dera followers, known as premis, held protests and cremated bodies of the deceased only after police promised to catch the culprits and announced `20 lakh compensation along with jobs for two of the family members. The police have set up a special investigating team (SIT) to probe the case and nab the culprits.
Police have also announced `50 lakh cash reward and a job of Sub-Inspector in the force for any clues regarding the assailants.
Meanwhile, the Dera followers will hold naam charcha — a religious congregation — at Ahmedgarh on March 8 to decide on the "next course of action", and pay homage to the two premis. The senior members of Dera's all wings are expected to attend the congregation.