Bargari sacrilege case key accused cremated; SIT constituted to probe murder

A Dera Sacha Sauda follower, who was a key accused in a four-year-old sacrilege case in Bargari, was cremated Monday evening after officials held marathon talks with sect members and Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh announced an SIT to probe his death in an attack in Nabha prison.

At a high-level meeting of police and administrative officials in Chandigarh, Amarinder Singh ordered constitution of a Special Investigation Team to probe the killing of Mahinderpal Bittu (49) in the high-security prison allegedly by two inmates.

In Kotkapura, Faridkot deputy commissioner and district police chief held a marathon meeting with the Dera members, who were demanding a judicial probe into the killing, and withdrawal of the sacrilege case against Bittu.

They told the Dera members and Bittu's family members that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident and assured them of an impartial probe into the matter.

The officials also informed them about the constitution of the SIT following ...