Another Dera follower sets self on fire

New Delhi: A Dera Sacha Sauda follower attempted self-immolation outside a Gurdwara in Bathinda, Punjab, on Sunday.

Thirty-two-year old Sham Sunder Bansal set himself ablaze in front of a gurudwara situated at Paras Ram Nagar in Bhatinda following the announcement by about 10 to 11 Dera followers of their dissociation from the Sacha Sauda sect.

They also announced that they were rejoining the Sikh fold.

He was rushed to CMC hospital at Ludhiana in a critical state. Doctors treating him were quoted by news agency UNI as saying Bansal has nearly 70 per cent burns.

Bansal said he wanted to "protest" the alleged high-handedness of the police and state government against their Guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

On July 2, Dera follower Jaswinder Singh had also attempted self-immolation at Sirsa. He, too, belonged to Bhatinda district.