Press Trust of India / Jalndhar May 30, 2009, 13:57 IST
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his Deputy Sukhbir Badal today met Dera Sachkhand leaders to assuage their feelings after the attack on their leaders in Vienna.
The Badals had a close door meeting with the Dera leaders who requested them to take steps to ensure immediate release of those arrested in Vienna following the attack last week.
"I have come here to condole the death of Sant Rama Nand and condemn the attack on Dera Head Niranjan Das in Vienna," he said while referring to the attack as "cowardly act" and an attempt to disturb the peace of Punjab.
Badal lauded the role of Dera leaders for restoring peace in the state.
Badal later told reporters that a Committee headed by Divisional Commissioner S R Ladhar and Inspector General (Zonal) Sanjeev Kalra has been set up to review the cases of those arrested after the violence in the state. Twenty five people were arrested in the state.
The CM said the dead body of the Dera will be brought soon and he was in touch with Ministry of External Affairs on the issue. He said state funeral would be extended to the deceased Sant.
On the rising number of racial attacks on Indian students, many of whom are Punjabis, in Australia, Badal said that he has already taken up the issue with concerned Union Ministry.
Sukhbir Badal, who also holds Home portfolio in the state cabinet, said that normalcy was restored in the state and only night curfew was imposed in the disturbed areas as a precautionary manner.
Badals were accompanied by Avtar Singh Makkar, SGPC's Chief, Punjab Cabinet Minister Manoranan Kalia and Daljeet Singh Cheema, Advisor to Chief Minister.
Dera sources said that post-mortem of the body of Sant Rama Nand was conducted yesterday in Vienna and it is expected that mortal remains would be flown back to India on Wednesday, while funeral will take place on Thursday.
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