Dera Sachh Khand leader Sant Rama Nand cremated near Jalandhar

Jalandhar: Thousands of people gathered at the funeral of Dera Sachh Khand leader, Sant Rama Nand, who was killed by some members of a rival Sikh group in Vienna (Austria) on May 24. The funeral was held at the Ballan village near Jalandhar. Sant Rama Nand's dead body was brought to Jalandhar today amid tight security. Another religious leader Sant Niranjan Dass, who was also injured in the attack, returned with Sant Rama Nand's dead body.

The Dera Sachh Khand Sikhs are the followers of Guru Ravi Dass and mostly are Dalits. After the killing of Sant Rama Nand, violence erupted in several parts of Punjab, including Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur, Phagwara and Ludhiana.

Today's cremation passed off peacefully, as the Dera Sachh Khand leaders had appealed their followers to maintain peace. The Punjab Government had deployed BSF and Punjab Police personnel to keep a strict vigil and handle any untoward incidents.

Sant Rama Nand was cremated with full state honours. Several political leaders including Union Ministers Ambika Soni, Kumari Selja, Parneet Kaur and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati paid floral tributes to the departing soul. Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal, and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal attended the funeral.