Damdami Taksal chief Harnam Singh Dhumma on Monday virtually admitted to his supporters’ role in the May 17 attack on Sikh preacher Ranjit Singh Dhadrianwale near Ludhiana.
“Some of the attackers are students of the Taksal. Even the vehicles belong to the Taksal. But I was unaware about all this,” said Dhumma, who was recently engaged in a spat with Dhadrianwale. Soon after the attack, fingers were being pointed at Taksal’s supporters.
Dhadrianwale earlier today said he was not satisfied with the police investigation as the government was protecting the main conspirator. He condemned the episode wherein the accused were projected as “heroes”.
“It is sad that flowers are being showered on killers,” he said.
Dhadrianwale said: “The key conspirator behind the attack should be exposed. Everyone in Punjab knows who is behind the attack, but the police are not acting against him as the government is sheltering him.”
He refuted the allegation that he himself orchestrated the attack. “I give an open invitation to all investigation agencies to prove these allegations,” he said.
The interrogation of the eight accused in police custody has revealed that while five of them are directly associated with the Taksal, the others are linked to Taksal offshoots.
Talking to mediapersons at the Taksal headquarters in Chowk Mehta, 40 km from here, Dhumma also announced full support, including legal, to the assailants.
“The attack on Dhadrianwale is the result of his objectionable remarks on Taksal’s ‘dastar’ (turban) and false propaganda being carried out by him inside and outside the country,” said Dhumma.
“The propaganda was deeply hurting Taksal followers. Dhadrainwale must understand that remarks made against me are remarks made against the entire organisation. Understandably, Taksal followers were angry,” he added.
Dhumma also warned Dhadrianwale that if he did not stop his propaganda against the Taksal, situation would get tense further.
“He (Dhadrianwale) says that I am a ‘sarkari sant’. I challenge him to prove it. I have no government vehicle or protection,” said Dhumma.
