A red alert has been sounded in Punjab following an alleged attack on the chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh near Sirsa in neighbouring Haryana.

The sect chief’s vehicle was reportedly stoned after his followers and certain people belonging to the Sikh community clashed near a village on the Haryana-Rajasthan border on Monday.

The chief was reportedly returning after delivering a discourse in nearby Rajasthan. Five persons were injured in the clashes.

Reports from Sirsa said that Ram Rahim Singh escaped unhurt in the attack.

Taking cognisance of the incident which could have ramifications in an already surcharged atmosphere among the Dera followers and the Sikh community, the Punjab government has sounded a red alert.

Tension has mounted in Sirsa town, the headquarter of the Dera after the incident. The sect chief has been provided Z-plus category security by the Haryana government after the top Sikh clergy in Punjab issued an edict to close down all branches of the Dera and for social boycott of the dera followers in Punjab.

The sect chief has been facing a case of blasphemy in Bathinda in Punjab and a court had issued arrest warrants against him after he allegedly dressed alike the Sikh guru Gobind Singh which the Sikhs regarded as an act of blasphemy.

The HC has granted stay on the sect chief’s arrest till August 6.A bitter fall-out of the controversy has seen repeated clashes between the Dera followers and the Sikhs in Punjab in the past one month.
 Two Dera followers have also committed self immolation in the past fortnight in protest against the registration of case against their sect chief.