Matter sub judice: Khattar on demand to compensate kin of deceased Dera followers

Panchkula (Haryana) [India], Sept. 22 (ANI): The matter is sub judice and the government will act according to the court's order, said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday, in a reply to state Cabinet Minister Anil Vij's demand for compensation for the families of those killed in police firing during the violence that broke out at Panchkula after the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

"The matter is sub-judice, court will decide if any compensation has to be given or not. Will will give compensation if court says, whatever it directs, we will do that," Khattar told the media here.

Vij, however, pointed that compensation was awarded to victims after last year's Jat agitation, hence asks the same for the "Dera victims."

Earlier in September 1, during the search operation at the Dera headquarters in Haryana's Sirsa, Anil Vij refuted the claims that he had donated money to the Dera Chief.

Speaking to ANI on the same, Vij reiterated that the money was given to the children in the Dera and not the Dera Chief.

"Being the Sports Minister, I went there for the inauguration of an event. The children in the Dera won in the National Games in Kerala and the prize money was to felicitate them," he said.

Earlier on September 5, the Punjab and Haryana High Court gave orders to conduct a search operation at the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda, under the supervision of a judicial officer.

This order came after the Haryana Police seized a cache of 33 licensed weapons of the Dera Sacha Sauda. These weapons include 14 revolvers, nine guns, four rifles and other modified weapons.

The police later seized and sealed all the weapons. (ANI)