The Dera Sacha Sauda and the Sikhs on Monday headed for further confrontation with the Sikh high priests demanding the closure of all Deras in Punjab and the Sirsa-based group refusing, even as they gave a rare call for a state bandh on Tuesday.

As the Sikh's highest temporal seat  gave an ultimatum to the Punjab government to close down the Deras by May 27, it rejected the regret expressed by Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for the chain of events following an alleged blasphemous act which left one killed and over 100 injured in sectarian violence.

The Dera's senior vice chairman Prithviraj told a gathering of followers in Sirsa, "The question of vacating the deras does not arise at all and we will protest against the edict."

On a day when the Punjab police filed a case against the Dera chief in Bathinda for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, the five high priests  in a fresh 'hukumnama' (edict) also sought to put pressure on the Dera demanding expediting the Central Bureau of Investigation probe for some incidents.

The events related to the murder of a Sirsa journalist who had written against the Dera and the allegations of rape in its headquarters in Sirsa in Haryana. The Punjab government had hoped the FIR will help "cool down tempers."

At the end of the three-day deadline set for Dera chief's apology for alleged blasphemy to Guru Gobind Singh and for Punjab government's action, the five high priests met at the Golden Temple complex.

Issuing the 'hukumnama' at the end of a two-hour crucial meeting of the priests, Akal Takht Jathedar Joginder Singh Vedanti announced the bandh on May 22, considered a rare call from the top sikh clerics.