31 killed, 1000 detained in India riots over guru verdict

At least 31 people were killed and over 200 injured in violence unleashed by Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s followers after he was convicted by a special CBI court in Panchkula in a 15-year old rape case on Friday.

Doctors at government hospitals in Panchkula and Chandigarh said the death toll could rise as many of the injured are in serious condition.

The agitated supporters set on fire many government buildings, including a local telephone exchange and LIC office. They also attacked many media vehicles and injured journalists, expressing their anger over the CBI court verdict.

Fifteen years after he was accused of raping his sadhvis, Gurmeet was held guilty of the crime by special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh. The quantum of sentence would be pronounced on Monday after hearing the CBI and Dera's counsel. Gurmeet faces a minimum of seven years in jail, the maximum punishment being life term.

Just after the verdict Ram Rahim Singh was taken into custody by Haryana Police. He was later taken to Rohtak jail. The verdict came as a big set back to Gurmeet’s followers who have converged in large numbers in Panchkula for last few days.

Elaborate security arrangements was made around the district court in Panchkula ahead of the court verdict. Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed in great numbers. Ten trucks of army entered CBI courts complex and took charge of securing the courts complex after the judgment.

Two railway stations in Punjab were set on fire by followers of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, soon after the self-styled godman was convicted. Malout and Balluanna railway stations were partially torched by the angry followers as violence spread across Punjab in the aftermath of the court’s verdict, officials said.

“Two stations have been affected and we are still getting inputs on the extent of damage. No injuries have been reported so far,” Northern Railway spokesperson Neeraj Sharma said. The Northern Railway had cancelled 211 trains to and from Haryana since August 23 up to August 27. Meanwhile, 1000 Dera supporters have been detained in Panchkula.

Barricades were put up about three kilometres from the sprawling headquarters of the Dera. Security personnel were equipped with teargas shells and water cannons. The mounted police was also pressed into service. After the verdict was announced, thousands of people came out of the headquarters and reached the barricades, police said. Plumes of dark smoke could be seen at a distance near the headquarters. It is suspected that the supporters may have torched some vehicles.

Delhi was put on high alert in the wake of incidents of violence in Haryana following the conviction of Ram Rahim Singh. A bus was torched in northeast Delhi’s Loni Chowk also, allegedly by Dera supporters. A senior police officer said that even though there have been no specific inputs of Dera followers planning to create trouble here, security has been beefed up in the national capital as a precautionary measure. The security in areas bordering Haryana has been heightened, the police said.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh has taken stock of the situation in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh in the wake of violence, a home ministry official said. Singh also called up chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab, Manohar Lal Khattar and Amarinder Singh respectively, who briefed him about the current situation and the steps taken to restore normalcy, the official said. Singh also held a high-level meeting with top officials and reviewed the situation.

Earlier in the day, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar asked Gurmeet’s followers to maintain peace and said arrangements have been made to deal with all possible situations.

“Once the verdict comes, whatever situation arises, to deal with that, every possible arrangement has been made,” Khattar said in a video message. “I appeal to people of Haryana, especially Dera ‘premis’ (followers) to maintain peace and brotherhood,” he added.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim had also yesterday night released a video and asked his followers to abide by the law.

The sexual exploitation case was registered against the Dera chief in 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after anonymous letters were circulated about the alleged sexual exploitation of two ‘sadhvis’ (female followers) by Ram Rahim Singh.

Source: Times of India, India Today