Dera HQ search ops day 2: Explosives factory sealed, minors rescued

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New Delhi: The ongoing search operations at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters near Haryana's Sirsa exposed the presence of illegal explosives factory and firecrackers on Saturday.

Deputy Director (Public Relations) of the Haryana Government Satish Mehra said, "Explosives and fire crackers have been seized from the headquarters." The factory, however, was immediately sealed.

Haryana: Fire crackers factory sealed, explosives & fire-crackers seized from #DeraSachaSauda as search continues in Dera HQ in Sirsa pic.twitter.com/sYd4hwmO4v

— ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2017

He further added, "Some minor children have been rescued, one is from Uttar Pradesh and the other is from Kaithal. They have been handed over to the district child protection officer."

Mehra revealed that a set of walkie-talkies has also been recovered from the room of convicted Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who has been convicted with 20 years of imprisonment in August for raping two of his female disciples. The recovered materials also included unlabelled medicines.

According to the reports, the search operations would be carried on till evening, following which actions would be initiated.

Earlier on Friday, materials including a few computers, a luxury SUV and some currency notes were being seized.

The search operation was headed by Court Commissioner AK Pawar appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.

Also, hundreds of pairs of shoes, designer clothes and colourful caps of the Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh were reportedly recovered from the sect on the same day.

JCB machines, locksmiths, forensic experts and dog squads are being engaged in the sanitisation. A bomb squad will reportedly accompany the officials and security personnel while conducting the raids inside the Dera headquarters.

Hundreds of security personnel and local administration have been deployed in conducting the operation. The search operation is intended to sanitise the controversial sect campus.

A curfew has been imposed around the Dera premises while local authorities suspended internet services across Sirsa district.

On September 5, the Punjab and Haryana High Court gave orders to conduct a search operation of Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters under the supervision of a judicial officer.

The order came after the Haryana Police seized 33 licensed weapons of the Dera Sacha Sauda. These weapons included 14 revolvers, nine guns, four rifles and other modified weapons.

The police later seized and sealed all weapons.

(With agency inputs)