Sirsa – A local court on Thursday acquitted 25 Sikhs in a rioting case registered after a clash with Dera Sacha Sauda followers in Rori village of the district in 2008.
The additional District and Sessions Judge RK Mehta gave them the benefit of the doubt while acquitting them of the charges under Sections 145, 147, 149, 323, 452, 506, 427 and 295-A of the IPC for rioting, voluntary causing hurt, criminal trespass, criminal intimidation, mischief for causing damage and outraging religious feelings of a community.
The incident dates back on March 26, 2008, when dera follower Dharampal started ‘naam charcha’ (discourse) in his house and members from the Sikh community started protesting against it. The situation turned ugly when dera followers and Sikh started pelting stones on each other leaving a few injured from both of sides. District police had booked many persons under various sections of the IPC and arrested 25 Sikhs on the complaint made by dera follower Om Prakash.
A house and a car were set on fire during the clashes. Stones were also pelted on a police gypsy.
The police had booked 25 persons after the clashes