Ram Rahim supporters go on rampage, 31 killed after court convicts Dera chief in rape case

New Delhi: Thousands of supporters of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Friday went on a rampage, torching vehicles and destroying public properties, leaving at least 31 dead and 200 others injured, after a CBI court convicted the self-styled godman in a 2002 rape case.

The court has reserved its decision on the quantum of sentence on August 28.

Haryana's Panchkula city, where the hearing took place, was the worst hit with Ram Rahim's supporters launching violent protests soon after the conviction.

The spiralling violence left the city in a state of disarray even as the local administration clamped a curfew and rushed to normalise the situation.

Violent protests were also witnessed in neighbouring Punjab. Section 144 was imposed in towns in 10 Punjab districts, including Mansa, Bathinda, Patiala, Fazilka, Ferozepore, Faridkot, Malout, Sangrur and Barnala following the violence.

Besides Panchkula, which resembled a war zone, curfew was also imposed in Sirsa, the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda where one person died in the violence.

The army was deployed in different parts of Haryana and Punjab, including Panchkula, Sirsa, Mansa and Muktsar -- the last two major centres of the sect.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the violence and urged everyone to maintain peace. "The instances of violence today are deeply distressing. I strongly condemn the violence and urge everyone to maintain peace," he said in series of tweets.

"The law and order situation is being closely monitored. I reviewed the situation with the NSA (National Security Advisor Ajit Doval) and Home Secretary (Rajiv Mehrishi)," he said, adding that he has urged officials to "work round the clock to restore normalcy and provide all possible assistance that is required".

It all began when CBI special judge Jagdeep Singh held the controversial sect leader, who has lakhs of followers mainly in Punjab and Haryana, guilty of raping and sexually exploiting two female disciples in 2002.

As the 15-year-long court battle ended, the sect chief was taken into custody. Soldiers deployed earlier rushed to the court and took charge. After a quick medical examination, the so-called godman was flown to a jail in Rohtak in Haryana.

Ram Rahim Singh stood in the court with his hands folded in prayer and his eyes closed when the judge started reading the verdict. The tens of thousands of supporters massed outside and who initially thought he would be let off first became gloomy -- then furious.

Even though the verdict was announced amid unprecedented security and thousands of police as well as paramilitary forces were deployed outside, the mobs took over the streets in no time, setting fire to scores of vehicles and buildings.

Panchkula residents told IANS on telephone that the crowds had invaded and tried to set fire to a bakery, a cinema theatre and a hotel besides torching scores of cars and two-wheelers. Residents shut themselves inside their homes.

Initially, the vastly outnumbered security forces fled from the mobs as they were attacked along with journalists. Some journalists took shelter in nearby houses to escape the mob fury.

The security forces then opened fire, killing 17 demonstrators.

More than 250 people, including security personnel and journalists, were injured in the mayhem. The dead, bleeding and with bullet wounds, collapsed on the roads, witnesses said. Panchkula looked like a town under siege, plumes of black smoke rising into the sky.

Hours later, Haryana Director General of Police B.S. Sandhu said: "Panchkula is now 100 percent safe."

Attempts were made to burn two railways stations in Punjab's Malout and Mansa towns. An electricity office in Sangrur town was set on fire. Two Income Tax department vehicles were also torched in Mansa.

In Sangrur, a tehsil office in Lehragaga town went up in flames. In Lambi town in Punjab's Muktsar district, masked men lobbed petrol bombs on a telephone exchange and fired into the air to trigger panic.

Across Haryana, traders lowered the shutters of shops in most towns.

Security of Rohtak town was handed over to the Central Reserve Police Force. The town was also at the centre of widespread Jat agitation violence in February last year.

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

Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar appealed to the people to maintain calm.

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

Amarinder Singh said: "Our forces are prepared to check any violence." He said the Army was called out in 10 places. Soldiers did a flag march in Zirakpur and Banur towns, located close to Panchkula.

In Delhi, where two empty train coaches and two buses were set on fire, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal made a similar appeal.

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke with both Khattar and Amarinder Singh and assured them all help to bring the law and order under control.

Khattar admitted that there had been lapses in managing the law and order situation.

Responding to a question whether there was a lapse in preparations by the state government ahead of the judgment, the Haryana Chief Minister agreed and said, "We are identifying the lapses."

However, BJP lawmaker Sakshi Maharaj has backed the Dera chief, saying he is being "harassed." 

"One person has complained of rape against Ram Rahim. Crores others believe he is God. Who do you think is right?" NDTV quoted Maharaj as saying. 

He alleged that a "conspiracy" is hatched "to defame not only Ram Rahim and other saints, but also Indian culture".

Police were on high alert in districts of western Uttar Pradesh and prohibitory orders under Section 144 clamped as a precautionary measure in Baghpat, Muzaffarnagar, Ghaziabad and Noida, adjoining Delhi.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday expressed "concern and shock" at the violence, and appealed for peace.

(With agency inputs)