MANSA, Punjab—Sikh organizations have welcomed the release of Bhai Bittu and others in the assassination case of Lilly Sharma. Sharma was a follower of the Sirsa based Sacha Sauda cult. A Mansa trial court had earlier acquitted 11 Sikhs, including senior leaders of Akali Dal (Panch Pardhani) Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu and Bhai Mandhir Singh. The judge however had convicted three other persons, namely Mithu Singh, Dr. Chhinda and Daljit Singh Taini against whom some dera followers had deposed.
Other acquitted by the court include Bhai Balbir Singh Bira, Prof. Gurvir Singh, Bhai Gamdoor Singh, Bhai Karan Singh, Bhai Raj Singh, Bhai Amritpal Singh, Bhai Gurdeep Singh Raju and Bhai Makhan Singh. The Additional Session Judge Raj Kumar Garg had rejected to hear the version of the case presented by the police and announced these Sikhs not guilty. Three persons convicted in the case, have been awarded life imprisonment.
Advocate Jaspal Singh Manjhpur, press secretary of Panch Pardhani said, “In this case, police tried its best to get Bhai Daljit Singh Bittu and Bhai Mandhir Singh punished illegitimately. For this purpose, it fabricated new witnesses every day but they could not be succeed in this direction.”
Speaking to media persons, Bhai Daljit Singh and Mandhir Singh stated, “Our political struggle continues, motive of which is to build independent and just oligarchy. But governments has continued to to derail our mission.” Bhai Bittu announced to continue working towards the mission of SAD (PP) in accordance to teachings of Guru Sahibs.
