Ram Rahim verdict: Panchkula violence leaves 30 dead, over 200 injured

Panchkula (Haryana)/New Delhi: At least 30 people were killed and more than 200 were injured in violence in Haryana's Panchkula city after a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court convicted Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in connection with his alleged involvement in a 2002 rape case.

Even as the court announced that the quantum of sentence against the self-proclaimed god man will be pronounced on August 28, his supporters who had gathered outside the Panchkula court premises; went on a raging rampage, damaging vehicles (cars and buses), pulling down security barriers, attacking media persons, OB vans and public property.

So problematic was the law and order situation that curfew had to be imposed in various places, including Panchkula, Bathinda, Ferozepur and Mansa. A curfew was also imposed in Punjab's Sangrur and Moga districts, reports ANI

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who was away in Kyrgyzstan to attend an SCO Home Ministers summit, had to advance his departure from that country by three hours in view of the violence that broke out in Haryana and Punjab.

Soon after landing in New Delhi, he spoke with the Haryana and Punjab Chief Ministers - Manohar Lal Khattar and Captain (Retired) Amarinder Singh -- to enquire about the law and order situation.

He also asked them if any reinforcements were needed and informed them that Central forces have already been deployed across the two states to handle any eventuality after conviction of the Dera chief.

"Both chief ministers said the situation was under control and expressed confidence that the violent protests will be contained," Singh told reporters.

Later in the day, Singh also spoke to the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Rajasthan - Arvind Kejriwal and Vasundhara Raje - and inquired about the situation in both of these states that border Haryana.

Issuing a general appeal for peace, Singh said: "I appeal to all, including Dera supporters, to be calm and maintain peace. No amount of money will be able to compensate any loss of life or property due to violence," he said.

Asked why the situation was allowed get worse and a build-up of protesters permitted, Singh said it was a democracy and the movement of people could not be curtailed.

Home Minister Singh will chair a high-level meeting at his residence on Saturday at which Home Secretary Rajiv Mehershi and other senior key officials will present, ANI quoted Home Ministry sources, as saying.

Bollywood celebrities Anupam Kher, Raveena Tandon and Hansal Mehta among others have hailed the verdict of a CBI special court holding Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh guilty of raping and sexually exploiting two female disciples. They also condemned the large-scale violence let loose by Dera followers in the wake of his conviction.

Several Bollywood celebrities took to Twitter to condemn the arson and violence by Dera followers in Punjab, Haryana and even in Delhi, and urged them to maintain peace.

Taking a strong exception to the mayhem unleashed by followers of Gurmeet Ram Raheem, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered recovery of losses from the Dera Sacha Sauda.

The court on Friday also directed police to register cases of damage of public property.

The full bench of the High Court also directed the Haryana government to use weapon or force, if required, to tackle the situation arising out of the CBI court verdict in the rape case against the Dera head.

The bench will hear the matter further tomorrow, Additional Solicitor General of India Satya Pal Jain said.

The full bench comprising acting Chief Justice S Singh Saron, Justice Avneesh Jhingan and Justice Surya Kant was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a Panchkula resident raising law and order concerns as over 1.5 lakh people have reportedly entered the district despite prohibitory orders.

The court ordered that "in case people indulge in causing loss to the properties, the process will be video-graphed and total loss will be recovered from the Dera," Jain said.

The bench directed the authorities in Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh to maintain law and order at any cost.

The court ordered that no political leader, including a minister, will interfere in the working of officers in handling the situation arising out of the verdict.

The court also directed that no political, social or religious leader will issue any provocative statement and that FIR would be registered in case it was done by anyone.

"Officers dealing with the situation will perform their job without fear and favour. In case any officer is found wanting in performing duty, strict action will be taken by the court," the bench ordered.

Jain informed the court that 93 companies (about 9300 personnel) of paramilitary forces have been provided by the Centre to Punjab, 103 to Haryana and 22 to Chandigarh.

He told the court that in case Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh needed additional strength of the Army, it will be provided.

The bench asked the Dera Sacha Sauda lawyer S K Garg Narwana to convey to the sect followers not to indulge in any violence or breach of peace.

The court also asked officers concerned to videograph the court complex.

Haryana's Advocate General Baldev Raj Mahajan told the court that certain areas occupied by the Dera followers have been vacated.

Yesterday, the court had pulled up the Haryana government for not imposing Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) properly to prevent the huge gathering of Dera followers in Panchkula.

The court had directed the Centre to immediately provide adequate forces required to deal with any law and order issue while also asking the Dera to apprise it of the steps being taken by it to defuse the situation.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been briefed about the situation in Haryana and Punjab.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and Intelligence Bureau Chief Rajiv Jain met the Prime Minister and briefed them about the prevailing situation in both states.

Here are the 10 latest developments after the court verdict:

1. The Haryana government has announced it will compensate for the property damage to media and the public.

2. Punjab has asked for more security forces from the Centre in view of violence at different places.

3. Haryana Police said the protesters have been identified and strict action will be taken against them. It said about 1,000 Dera supporters have already been detained.

4. Section 144 has also been imposed in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Baghpat in view of violent protests in Punjab and Haryana.

5. Meanwhile, Dera chief Ram Rahim Singh has been brought to Rohtak's Police Training College in a helicopter from Panchkula.

6. Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar has appealed for calm and asked people not to believe in rumours and 'steer clear' of those with criminal intentions.

7. Two empty coaches of Rewa Express were torched in Delhi's Anand Vihar railway station as the violence spreads to the NCR region. Earlier, Punjab's Malout Railway Station and a petrol pump were set on fire by protesters.

8. Six columns of the army have been deployed in Haryana's Sirsa for quick reaction, as violent protests continue.

9. In light of property damage, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered attachment of Dera Sacha Sauda properties so that the money retrieved can be used to compensate victims.

10. To maintain law and order, 10 BSF companies, CRPF personnel and around 57,000 police officials were put on duty in the affected areas. The army is also on standby.

11. Earlier, the police baton charged the Dera supporters in Panchkula and fired tear gas shells and water cannons after they attacked journalists and vandalised media vans. Live bullets were also fired in the air to disperse crowds.

12. The rape case against Ram Rahim dates back to 2002. Two women followers of Ram Rahim sent anonymous letters to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, accusing the Dera chief of raping them and other sadhvis in his sprawling Dera campus.

13. Following the letter, a case was registered by the CBI against the self-styled godman after allegations of sexual exploitation of the sadhvis.

14. During the probe, the CBI questioned the sadhvis who had left the Dera. The sadhvis reportedly made shocking allegations against Ram Rahim and two of them accused him of having raped them on account of 'purity'.

15. The hearing in the case has been on since 2007 when the CBI filed a chargesheet against the Dera chief.

16. The Dera chief also faces trial in another case involving the murder of a journalist, Ram Chander Chhatrapati and his follower Ranjit Singh in 2002.