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SV PULL BACK TO GV: Body of Saint Baba Gurbachan Singh surrounded by mourners in Delhi
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GV People on rooftops
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GVs Funeral procession in Delhi street (2 shots)
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SVs People slowly walking in procession (3 shots)
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SV PAN Lorry carrying body of saint (2 shots)
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GV Electric Crematorium building in Delhi, with guards outside
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GV Truck arriving at crematorium
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SV Body lifted from truck
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SV Body put in crematorium oven
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SV Wife and son of dead man crying
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Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: Tens of thousands of people participated in the funeral procession in Delhi on Sunday (27 April) for Indian religious leader, Baba Gurbachan Singh, shot dead outside his Delhi house on Thursday (24 April) night. Police have been told three armed men were seen near the house before the killing, but four days later, no arrests had been made.

SYNOPSIS: The murder of 50-year-old Baba Gurbachan Singh has shocked followers of the breakaway Nirankari Sikh sect which he led.

He was regarded as a saint and there are fears that his death might provoke more religious violence. During the past two years, dozens of people have died in New Delhi and Northern Punjab State, in clashes between Nirankari members and orthodox Sikhs.

Armed police were out in large numbers on Sunday, particularly at a spot where the funeral cortege passed near the Temple of Orthodox Sikhs. Men and women mourners displayed their grief silently during the slow procession from the hall where the body had lain in state.

As the draped funeral lorry passed the silent crowds, mourners wept openly. The Nirankaris, who have their headquarters in the Punjab, arouse strong emotions and resentment because of their challenge to Orthodox Sikhs, and because they had raised Baba Gurbachan Singh to the status of a prophet.

Police were also on duty at New Delhi's Electric Crematorium. The assassination had been the second attempt this year to kill Baba Gurbachan Singh. In March, an unsuccessful attempt was made on his life when a Sikh truck driver fired at his car. The Nirankari leader escaped unharmed from that incident, but a woman in the car was killed. Singh's son and his wife who was slightly wounded in the Thursday attack, have been promised maximum government help to find the killers.