Curfew was withdrawn in Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh which saw the maximum violence on Friday following the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. In front of TV cameras, he turned to some “IG saab” (Inspector General) and said 15 had died. All objectionable objects have been seized and Dera has been completely vacated says Kaithal DC.
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“The Khattar government should be immediately dismissed for its absolute laxity and involvement leading to large-scale violence after the conviction of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief on rape charges”, Mayawati said.
Hooda also said that people have lost faith from this government, adding, “There is no law and order in the state”.
Haryana Chief Secretary D.S. Dhesi denied that the convicted godman was being provided VIP treatment by the state and the police in prison. No action has been initiated by the Army so far.
According to sources, police was assisted by the army in carrying out the raids, which were conducted following a government order. Around one lakh people, including women and children, were present in the sect headquarters. Dera followers have been asked to move out from such campuses.
Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) BS Sandhu said that all Dera followers had been driven out and Panchkula was “absolutely safe” now.
A curfew imposed in Sirsa, where soldiers patrolled empty streets, was briefly lifted Sunday to allow Singh’s followers to leave the headquarters.
The Haryana Police, which was in the first line of defence against the agitated Dera followers, virtually abandoned their duty and ran to save their lives when the mobs attacked them with stones and sticks.
A room in the district jail in Sunaria will serve as a court room, a statement by the High Court of Haryana and Punjab had said on Saturday.
In 2014, six people were killed when followers of another religious leader, the guru Rampal, fought street battles with police who were attempting to arrest him after he repeatedly failed to appear in court in connection with a murder trial.
Meanwhile, Ram Rahim’s Z-plus security cover was withdrawn after his convictin in the rape case.
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Gurmeet Ram Rahim, accused of raping two sadhvis in 2002, was on Friday, held guilty by the Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Court of Panchkula.
