JALANDHAR: While Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has already been convicted and sentenced in cases of rape of sadhvis and now for murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatarpati , he and his close aides’ role is yet to be investigated in biggest terror act in Punjab in the last few years - Maur blast – in which seven persons were killed just before Punjab assembly poll on January 31, 2017.Police have already declared the dera’s three followers proclaimed offenders in the case but failed to find out the root of conspiracy. The dera head and his close associates’ role is yet to be investigated in cases of sacrilege at Bargari, Malke and Gurusar, in which his followers have already been arrested and three other key men are being chased by the police.The Maur Mandi blast was triggered when Congress candidate Harminder Jassi was leaving after addressing a poll meeting. While he escaped, his personal assistant was among those killed. Jassi, whose daughter is married to the dera head’s son, had claimed in February last year that he was the target of the blast.Punjab DGP Suresh Arora had termed it a “targeted terrorist attack” while then deputy CM and home minister Sukhbir Badal had pinned the blame on AAP and Sikh radicals, saying it was the result of hobnobbing between them. Chief minister Amarinder Singh had termed it a “senseless act of terrorism”. Yet even the present regime has failed to crack the case.Special investigation team headed by DIG Ranbir Singh Khattra, who also cracked the sacrilege case, had found the trail leading to the Sirsa dera. SIT got recorded statements of four witnesses before a magistrate and found that the car used in the blast was painted and prepared in the workshop where only the dera head’s cars were modified or repaired. SIT has already named three suspects in the case – all from the dera, including in-charge of the workshop, the sect chief’s security guard and an electrician there.When asked on Friday, DIG Khattra said, “The four who recorded the statements before the magistrate are witnesses but further leads and linkages can be identified only after they are arrested as only they can reveal that who directed the car to be modified, other actions.”At the same time role of the dera head or his close aides is yet to be investigated in sacrileges in October 2015 which had rocked the state. The then Badal government had alleged foreign hand behind these sacrileges and then deputy CM Sukhbir Badal even pinned the blame on Sikh activists.However, when SIT cracked the case in June last year, after Bargari morcha was launched on June 1, these also turned out to be the doings of Sirsa dera followers. While 23 dera followers have been arrested in the matter, three key dera men — Harsh Dhuri, Pardeep Kler and Sandeep Breta, who were known to be in the close circle of the sect chief — were also identified among conspirators. “We have secured their arrest warrants buy they have been absconding. Further leaders in this case would also be developed after they are caught,” DIG Khattra said.

Stay updated with all the Latest Ludhiana headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.