Dera Jagmalwali head laid to rest amid row

Anil Kakkar

Sirsa, August 2
The leader of Dera Jagmalwali, Bahadur Chand Vakil, was laid to rest on Friday afternoon in a somber ceremony attended by thousands of followers. His last rites took place within the dera premises, with many attendees visibly moved to tears.

Dispute over taking control
The Dera Jagmalwali, established in 1964-65, now faces a leadership dispute following Bahadur Chand’s passing, with Virendra Singh’s faction asserting its claim supported by a purported video of the leader naming him as heir.

Preparations for the funeral had been underway since morning, drawing devotees from Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Due to the large turnout, police perosonnel were deployed in significant numbers around the dera and along the
access routes. Security measures were heightened following a recent firing incident at the dera.
Among the prominent figures paying their respects were Sant Baba Brahmdas from Dera Baba Bhuman Shah, Sikh preacher Gurmeet Singh Tilokewala, MLA Sheeshpal Keharwala, Kalanwali, Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring, JJP founder Ajay Singh Chautala, INLD leader Karan Chautala, and other political, religious, and social leaders. Although MP Kumari Selja was expected to attend the ceremony, she arrived late.
According to Bahadur Chand’s nephew Amar Singh Bishnoi, the cremation followed Bishnoi traditions, with the body interred in a samadhi by his son
Om Prakash, grandsons Mukesh Kumar and Praveen Bishnoi, and brother Budhram Bishnoi.
Amar Singh alleged that individuals named Virendra Singh, Balkaur Singh, Shamsher Lahri, and Nandlal Grover intended to hasten the cremation to seize control of the dera. He sought a CBI investigation into the dera head’s death and filed a written complaint with the police.
Meanwhile, followers of Virendra Singh claim that the dera leader’s will was read in his presence a day before his death, declaring Virendra Singh as his successor. They dismiss the opposing claims as baseless, asserting that the will was videotaped and prepared with full awareness.
The dera, established in 1964-65, now faces a leadership dispute following Bahadur Chand’s passing, with Virendra Singh’s faction asserting its claim, supported by a purported video of the leader naming him as heir.