Ahead of Gurmeet Ram Rahim rape case conviction: As it happened

A day ahead of the CBI court verdict in a sexual exploitation case against Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, thousands of security personnel have been deployed across Haryana and Punjab to maintain law and order situation.

Chandigarh/Panchkula: The trial of self-styled Indian "godman" Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is accused of rape, has triggered a security lockdown in parts of Punjab and Haryana with police closing schools and converting a cricket stadium into a jail in case his followers erupt into violence if he is found guilty.

Thousands of Singh's supporters have begun assembling close to the court in Punjab, where he is on trial for raping two women in cases that date back to 2002. A verdict is expected on Friday.

The case was registered 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 Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

24 August 2017

21:12 IST

Army has been alerted and would be requisitioned if the situation demanded, says Haryana Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Ram Niwas

21:12 IST

Internet services suspended in Sirsa.

21:02 IST

Railways cancel 29 trains bound for Punjab and Haryana for four days. 

22 trains to Punjab and 7 to Haryana have been cancelled beginning today.

20:37 IST

Around 10 lakh Dera Sach Sauda followers expected to reach Panchkula by tomorrow

20:37 IST

Directions have been issued for curfew in Sirsa, after reviewing security situation: Superintendent of Police Sirsa Ashwin Shenvi 

20:32 IST

If need be we have authorised DGP to impose curfew wherever required: Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh

20:25 IST

HRTC suspends bus services to Punjab, Haryana; nearly 200 routes to be affected

20:17 IST

Verdict on Dera Sacha Sauda chief: Forty duty magistrates appointed in Gurugram to deal with any situation

19:42 IST

Directions have been issued for curfew in Sirsa, after reviewing security situation: Superintendent of Police Sirsa Ashwin Shenvi

19:28 IST

Haryana and Punjab High Court raps Haryana govt for not imposing section 144 on time

19:27 IST

Centre sends paramilitary forces to Panchkula ahead of court's verdict in rape case on Gurmeet Ram Rahim

19:19 IST

Ram Rahim's followers refuse to take High Court's order to leave Panchkula, say "they will stay here"

19:17 IST

American Embassy releases travel advisory urging US citizens against travelling to Delhi on Friday, in view of the court's verdict in the rape trial against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim

Security Message for U.S. Citizens: https://t.co/uHaD1RciHq

— U.S. Embassy India (@USAndIndia) August 24, 2017

19:05 IST

Home Minister Rajnath Singh speaks to Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, assures him of adequate forces for security in the state, ahead of Ram Rahim rape trial

18:20 IST

A Haryana court deferred its verdict on two criminal cases slapped against self-styled godman Rampal till 29 August, in view of the verdict in a rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Friday

18:18 IST

Rape trial: Flag march taken out by security forces in Sirsa's Begu Road ahead of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Verdict on August 25

18:18 IST

Cops have only arranged security for the courtroom but have paid no attention to the security of common people: High Court

18:04 IST

Punjab and Haryana High Court directs Gurmeet Ram Rahim to ask supporters to leave Panchkula city immediately

18:03 IST

Punjab and Haryana High Court asks state government to take help from Centre to escort peacefully Ram Rahim's followers from Panchkula city

18:01 IST

Punjab and Haryana High Court directs Centre to ask Gurmeet Ram Rahim's followers to go back to their homes

18:01 IST

Duty Magistrates deployed across Haryana, Section 144 imposed in Sirsa

18:00 IST

28 Punjab bound trains cancelled on 24, 25,26 August: Northern Railway

17:57 IST

Mobile Internet services suspended for 72 hours in Haryana, Punjab's Chandigarh ahead of verdict in sexual exploitation case against Gurmeet Ram Rahim

17:57 IST

Sirsa's Dalbir Singh Indoor Stadium and Panchkula's Chaudhary Tau Devi Lal Stadium Complex to be designated as 'Special Jail'

17:57 IST

Ram Rahim verdict: All offices, boards, corporations, agencies and public sector organizations of Punjab Government to be closed on August 25

17:55 IST

Ram Rahim verdict: Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) suspends 150 bus routes to neighbouring states from today midnight till August 25

17:55 IST

Haryana: Security tightened, paramilitary forces deployed in Sirsa as Dera followers gather on court road, in the wake of court verdict on Guru Ram Rahim

16:25 IST

Haryana Additional Chief Secretary Ram Niwas says Mobile internet services and data services will be suspended for 72 hours.

The state administration has deployed 53 companies of central paramilitary forces apart from around 50,000 personnel of Haryana Police, Niwas says.

On August 25 and 26 buses will not ply from bus depots in Bathinda, Budhlada, Sangrur and Barnala.

15:39 IST

Don't want a situation similar to Jat reservation stir: HC to Haryana govt

The Punjab and Haryana High Court pulled up the Haryana government for worsening law and order situation as nearly two lakh sect followers have already descended on Panchkula.

Keeping in view the gravity of the situation, the Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the Centre to provide additional forces.

Apprehending violence in case the court's judgment went against the sect chief on Friday, a Division Bench of acting Chief Justice Surinder Singh Saron and Justice Avneesh Jhingan said they "did not want a situation similar to the Jat reservation stir".

The court warned of initiating action against Director General of Police in case the state failed to ensure security.

15:37 IST

A Home Ministry official confirmed that more than 15,000 paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Punjab and Haryana.

Both the states have been put on high alert to deal with any law and order situation, the official said.

The security personnel are keeping a close watch on social media, particularly WhatsApp groups, Facebook and Twitter.

The Police have asked people not to spread rumours.

15:36 IST

Nearly two lakh sect followers have reached Panchkula and nearby places from across Punjab, Haryana and other states, raising fears of possible violence.

15:36 IST

The Dera sect chief confirms that despite suffering from a severe backache, he will appear in person before the court. on August 25.

Situation tense in Haryana, Punjab

Fearing law and order problem, the Manohar Lal Khattar government has said that it would call the Army, if the need arises, and even impose curfew.

The authorities have deployed hundreds of police personnel and paramilitary forces.

Security forces were carrying out flag marches at many sensitive places in both the states.

Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas has termed the situation as dynamic and has asked the state administration to continuously be in touch with Dera followers for maintaining peace.

Aditya Insan, the Dera spokesperson, on Wednesday said, “I came to know that 8-10 lakh people have reached (Panchkula) and an additional 15-20 lakh will also reach there.”

Two days ahead of the verdict, Gurmeet Ram Rahim took to Twitter to give a message of "selfless service and meditation" to his followers.

"Selfless service, meditation and firm belief are the ornaments in spirituality," he said in a tweet and also shared a link to a Facebook video of one of his discourses.

The Haryana government said except for offices of essential services, August 24 and 25 would be observed as gazetted holidays in government offices, boards, corporations, and banks in Sectors 4, 5 and 6 of Panchkula only.

The situation at Dera's 'Naam Charcha Ghar' in Panchkula was being constantly monitored. Niwas said that carrying of any kind of stick or weapon has been prohibited at 'Naam Charcha Ghar' of Dera followers in the state.

Reports said that there was a large build up Dera followers in Panchkula and many more were still arriving.

The authorities have ordered closure of schools on August 24 and 25. Teaching work in all the universities and colleges in the state will remain suspended on August 25.

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has said nobody would be allowed to disturb law and order in the state.

In Punjab, all schools and colleges have been ordered to remain shut on Friday.

State-owned Punjab Roadways will not run its buses towards Sirsa, where the headquarter of Dera is located, from Thursday, while PRTC will stop plying of buses towards Haryana on Friday.

The Haryana Roadways too have decided to suspend its bus service to Chandigarh and Panchkula depots for two days from Thursday, a spokesperson for the transport department said.