Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh rape verdict: Events as they unfolded a day after
Self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was on Friday convicted of rape by a Special CBI court in Panchkula.
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Panchkula: Self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was on Friday convicted of rape by a Special CBI court in Panchkula.
At least 31 people have been killed after the Dera Sacha Sauda followers went on a rampage, setting fire to scores of vehicles and buildings in Haryana.
Punjab CM Amarinder Singh to visit vulnerable areas to thank people, security forces for maintaining peace following Gurmeet Ram Rahim's conviction in rape case
Death toll rises to 36 in Dera Sacha Sauda violence, Army moves in to vacate Dera headquarter in Sirsa
Gurmeet Ram Rahim being treated as normal prisoner, handled according to Haryana jail manual, says Haryana Chief Secretary
Maintained high alert, no incident reported, Sec 144 to continue till further order: Delhi Police
No one will be allowed around Sonaria jail; have made adequate arrangements for the sentencing of Ram Rahim on Aug 28, says Haryana DGP
Curfew relaxed in three districts of Punjab, to continue in seven other districts of the state
Nine congregation centres of Dera Sacha Sauda sealed in Kurukshetra; over 2,500 lathis, other sharp-edged weapons recovered
Maintained high alert. No incident reported. Section 144 to continue till further order. Won't affect normal life, says Delhi Police PRO.
The CBI judge will be flown to the Sunaria jail in Rohtak for the quantum of sentencing of Dera chief.
Notification on District Jail,Sunaria as place of sitting of CBI Court, Panchkula for pronouncement of quantum of sentence against #RamRahim pic.twitter.com/V67I3eoiNe
— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2017
Deputy Advocate General Gurdass Singh Salwara sacked.
Salwara sacked after he reportedly carried luggage of Ram Rahim Singh.
Attack on media condemnable, miscreants who entered peaceful gathering caused violence, says Vipssana Insan, Chairperson, Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa.
Curfew will be relaxed till 6 pm today, will assess situation, if everything remains peaceful will lift curfew in coming time, says SSP Bhatinda.
There were no deaths in Punjab, everything was peaceful here. There was no firing, lathicharge, says Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh.
I will not allow violence of any form from any sect in Punjab. Fault was in allowing people to gather in Panchkula when the verdict was coming, should have known that there could be a problem, he adds.
Earlier, Punjab CM Amarinder Singh chaired a high-level meeting over law and order situation in the state.
The Press Club of India condemns the violence against media persons in Panchkula allegedly by the followers of Dera Sacha Sauda chief.
Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas has asked the authorities to search all 'congregation centres' of Dera Sacha Sauda in Haryana.
Police patrolled the streets in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar district where miscreants on Friday torched government buildings and a vehicle.
Senior Army official says no plan so far to enter Dera headquarters in Sirsa, maintenance of law and order top priority.
Security has been tightened near a Dera Sacha Sauda Ashram in Odisha's Puri after locals protested violence over the conviction of the sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh by a court in a rape case.
The Haryana government orders a search of all congregation centres belonging to the Dera Sacha Sauda in the state.
Haryana BJP incharge Anil Jain says 36 Dera Ashrams have been sealed and Dera at Sirsa is being vacated.
No one has been summoned, clarifies Haryana BJP in-charge Anil Jain on reports of CM Khattar being summoned to Delhi by the party high command.
Haryana Home Secretary DS Dhesi says the Dera sect chief has not been given any special treatment at Rohtak Jail.
"He is being treated as an ordinary prisoner. It was reported that he was being an air conditioner, there is nothing like that. As far as food is concerned, he is served the same food which other prisoners have," Dhesi says.
The state government will give monetary compensation to those who suffered losses during Friday's agitation, the secretary says.
Six columns of Army have been deployed in Panchkula and four in Sirsa, he added.
The chief secretary says Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's 'Z plus' security withdrawn after his conviction in rape case.
DG Haryana assured situation is under control. Situation in Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi is normal, says Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi.
Ram Rahim Singh was accompanied by his daughter, says DGP BS Sandhu.
The DGP informs that the sect chief would not be brought back to the Panchkula court for the sentencing on August 25 (Monday).
All killed and injured in yesterday's violence are Dera followers: DGP BS Sandhu
524 people have been arrested in connection with Friday's violence.
"We had no plans to send the army inside the Dera headquarters," he further added during a press conference.
Dera followers had one AK 47, one mausers and two rifles, said Haryana Chief Secretary DS Dhesi.
Haryana High Court blasted Khattar government over the violence by Dera supporters after special CBI court convicted him in rape case. "You allowed the city to burn for political gains. It seems the government has surrendered to agitators," the HC said.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh says the situation is peaceful, but state will remain on alert for 48 hours.
Singh tweets: "Just been briefed by DGP, situation peaceful, curfew lifted in 3 districts, relaxed in all others this morning. State on alert for 48 hrs."
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh holds a high-level meeting with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Rajiv Jain and other Home Ministry officials to review the security situation in Haryana.
Visual of Rohtak district prison in Sunaria where Dera chief Ram Rahim Singh is lodged.
Outside visual of Rohtak district prison in Sunaria where Dera chief #RamRahimSingh is lodged. #Haryana pic.twitter.com/uyuZmhgZKh
— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2017
Army has gheraoed the premises of Dera Sacha Sauda headquarter in Haryana's Sirsa.
Rapid Action Force and Policemen have also been stationed outside the premises of Dera HQ.
Giving a brief account of the Panchkula situation, a youth says, "We have been living in a state of terror. Yesterday and over the past few days we have been wondering if this is Panchkula or a city in some war-torn country."
Delhi Police says the situation is under control.
"There is no gathering and no incident of violence reported since yesterday. Adequate force deployed," Delhi Police tweets.
Congress launches a scathing attack on BJP government in Haryana.
"Death & violence caused by complete failure of state machinery. Lack of preparedness inexcusable. PM must take action & #KhattarMustResign," the party's Twitter handle says.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will hold a high-level meeting with National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Rajiv Jain and other Home Ministry officials to review the security situation in Haryana.
Punjab and Haryana authorities have relaxed curfew in some towns to enable the residents to buy essential and eatable items.
In Punjab curfew was relaxed at Patiala, Bathinda and Ferozepur towns for four hours.
In Haryana it was relaxed in Kaithal town.
Ram Rahim Singh is being treated as a normal prisoner at Sunaria jail, no special treatment being given to the sect chief, says Director General of Prisons in Haryana.
Police have detained 15 Dera Sacha Sauda followers since Friday night in Sirsa even as the authorities have appealed to over one lakh supporters still present in the sect headquarters to vacate the premises.
An uneasy calm prevails in Punjab and Haryana. The death toll in the violence that erupted in Haryana has climbed to 31.
A home ministry spokesperson says, "As per Panchkula Control Room in Haryana, the situation in Panchkula and Sirsa is very tense but under control."
Western Railways have cancelled and shortly terminated some trains.
Six trains have been cancelled, two trains partially cancelled.
Passengers please note that uue to law & order situation in Haryana & Punjab, some WR trns will be cancelled/short terminated @RailMinIndia pic.twitter.com/XlsmMaERPN
— Western Railway (@WesternRly) August 25, 2017
The situation in Panchkula seems to be under control as locals were today seen coming out on the streets.
However, in order to maintain calm, the state government has not reduced the security and the Army, Paramilitary forces along with the police are still guarding the town.
The Central government has asked the Haryana government to provide adequate security to the CBI special court judge Jagdeep Singh who convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief.
485 trains affected due to law and order situation in Haryana and Punjab.
Now the total trains affected due to Law & Order situation in Haryana & Punjab have raised to 485 (Position at 22.00 hrs.)@RailMinIndia pic.twitter.com/QeUPMfRS1x
— Northern Railway (@RailwayNorthern) August 25, 2017
Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) has suspended bus services to NCR due to incidents of arson.
Following violence in many parts of Haryana and Punjab by Dera Sacha Sauda sect members, the Uttarakhand government has imposed Section 144 in Nainital.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan has written to PM Modi, requesting him to ensure safety of people of Kerala in violence affected areas.
Alert sounded in UP
An alert has been sounded in Uttar Pradesh in the aftermath of a CBI court convicting Dera Sacha Sauda sect head in a rape case.
Officials said prohibitory orders under Section 144 have been clamped as a precautionary measure in Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad and Noida.
Delhi tense
Security has been beefed up as violence erupted after the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief in a rape case.
Violence and arson spilled over to the national capital from neighbouring Haryana, forcing the authorities to impose prohibitory orders in the national capital till further orders. 12 buses and two train coaches were torched by mobs agitated over the rape conviction of Dera chief.
A Delhi transport corporation (DTC) bus was burned by protesters at Loni of Ghaziabad. Two coaches of a stationary train were set ablaze at Anand Vihar Railway Station.
Delhi Police Commissioner has appealled to Delhiites to remain and assured them all help from the police.
Appeal to all to maintain peace & order. #DelhiPolice on full alert. Strict legal action will be taken against miscreants for any violation.
— CP Delhi (@CPDelhi) August 25, 2017
::Update:: Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in 11 districts of Delhi including New Delhi. Maintain peace,people are requested to cooperate.
— Delhi Police (@DelhiPolice) August 25, 2017
PM Modi appeals for peace
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the violence terming it as "deeply distressing" and urged everyone to maintain peace.
In a series of tweets the PM said, “The instances of violence today are deeply distressing. I strongly condemn the violence & urge everyone to maintain peace.”
“The law & order situation is being closely monitored. I reviewed the situation with the NSA & Home Secretary.”
“Urged officials to work round the clock to restore normalcy and provide all possible assistance that is required.”
Union Home Minsiter Rajnath spoke with the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab -- Manohar Lal Khattar and Amarinder Singh -- and assured them of all help.
Singh also held a meeting with top officials and directed the central agencies to monitor the situation and apprise him regularly, said a home ministry official.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar admitted lapses in security arrangements following a verdict against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Facing a volley of questions from reporters on the violence that has left at least 30 people dead and scores injured, he said the "lapses have been identified and we are taking appropriate steps".
"All those who have taken law into their hands will be punished. We have identified some culprits including those who fired (from the mob at security forces), some of whom have been nabbed and action will be taken against them," he said.
In order to maintain law and order, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh said curfew was imposed in Firozpur, Bhatinda, Mansa and Malout. He said nothing untoward has happened and the step was taken as a matter of precaution.
The Army has been called out and curfew was imposed in 10 districts of Punjab's Malwa region.
The CM, who was personally monitoring the situation, appealed to the people to remain calm and not to take the law in their hands.
Curfew is imposed in towns in 10 Punjab districts, including Mansa, Bathinda, Patiala, Fazilka, Ferozepore, Faridkot, Malout, Sangrur and Barnala following the violence.
The Army has also been deployed in different parts of Haryana and Punjab, including Panchkula, Sirsa, Mansa and Muktsar -- the last two major centres of the sect.
Six columns of the Army, comprising a total of 500 to 600 soldiers, are deployed in Panchkula.
Media persons and assets were among the main targets of the mobs.
Police and paramilitary used force, including firing and lobbing teargas shells, to control the volatile situation created by the dera followers who had gathered in thousands defying the prohibitory orders like Section 144 of the CrPC, which bars assembly of more than four people at one place.
Dera chief held guilty of rape
CBI judge Jagdeep Singh held Ram Rahim, the 50-year-old flamboyant chief of the dera, guilty of rape in a case that was registered on the basis of an anonymous written complaint in 2002 that he had sexually exploited two female followers.
The court will be pronouncing the quantum of sentence on August 25 (Monday).
On the basis of the report, a case was registered against him in December 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
After the verdict, the so-called godman was flown to a jail in Rohtak in Haryana.
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