A court in Haryana’s Kaithal district has acquitted 27 Dera Sacha Sauda followers in a 2017 case involving allegations of an attack on a police party, firing and vandalism of government vehicles in Kotda village. The court extended the benefit of doubt to all 27 accused.
The verdict was delivered by Kaithal Sessions Judge Kanchan Mahi. Three other accused, Mahipal, Rajesh and Ramphal, died during the trial. Following the information, a police team led by ASI Subhash Chandra reached the village in government and private vehicles. The prosecution alleged that the gathering attacked the police personnel, with the mob opening fire and throwing petrol bottles at police vehicles. Some accused were also alleged to have attacked policemen with swords, gandasas and sticks.
Advocate Harpal Singh Duhan represented 26 of the accused, while advocate Suresh Mann represented one accused. Police received information on August 25, 2017, that a group of Dera Sacha Sauda followers had gathered at a dera in Kotda village, according to the prosecution. The police alleged that around 60 to 70 people were present on motorcycles and were carrying weapons, including gandasas, sticks and bottles containing petrol.
Court Acquits Accused in Power House Incident
A court has acquitted the accused in a case related to a violent incident at the Rajaund power house. The prosecution had claimed that a mob set fire to property and later clashed with villagers in nearby agricultural fields, resulting in injuries, including a gunshot wound to villager Ram Niwas.
In the aftermath, both the injured villagers and policemen were taken to the hospital. Subsequently, a case was filed, leading to the arrest of several individuals.
During the trial, the prosecution presented 38 witnesses. However, Judge Kanchan Mahi delivered a 43-page judgment stating that the evidence provided by the complainant and witnesses did not establish the allegations against the accused beyond a reasonable doubt.
