Punjab Schools, Colleges Shut on Ram Rahim Rape Case Verdict Day

The CBI court’s verdict in a rape case against the Dera Sacha Sauda leader is scheduled for 25 August.

Followers throng Panchkula ahead of the CBI court’s verdict on Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

(Photo Courtesy: YouTube/Saint MSG)

Section 144 has been imposed in Punjab ahead of the CBI court’s verdict on the rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

Schools and colleges in the state would remain shut on 25 August. The Haryana government too has notified that the above-mentioned day would be a gazetted holiday in government offices and educational institutions.

Over 40,000 followers of the controversial godman have gathered at Naam Charcha Ghar in Sector 23 of Panchkula.

The Chandigarh police have announced that the Chandigarh Cricket Stadium would be converted to a “temporary jail” on the date of the hearing, and would be used to detain unruly Dera followers.

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Followers throng Panchkula ahead of the CBI court’s verdict on Gurmeet Ram Rahim. (Photo Courtesy: Puneet M)

The Chandigarh police have announced that the Chandigarh Cricket Stadium would be converted to a “temporary jail” on the date of the hearing, and would be used to detain unruly Dera followers.

Director General of Police, Chandigarh, Tajinder Singh Luthra said:

We know the location of Dera followers, have told them there should be no untoward incidents.

The CBI registered a sexual exploitation case against the head of the sect in 2002 on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after anonymous letters were circulated about the alleged exploitation of two ‘sadhvis’ (female followers) by Singh. The Dera chief has denied these charges.

Devotees Storing Weapons, Petrol, Diesel: Punjab Police Issues Alert

Yesterday, Khattar had reportedly said that the Dera chief would appear before the special CBI Court in Panchkula on August 25 when the verdict would be pronounced.

When asked whether the Dera chief would appear in the court on August 25, the sect's spokesperson, Aditya Insan said:

Without holding any discussion with us, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has unfortunately made a statement that Guru ji (Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh) will come there (appear in court). It has led to a situation of confusion. We have been receiving lakhs of calls from our followers. I came to know that 8-10 lakh people have reached (Panchkula) and an additional 15-20 lakh will also reach there.

“It has come to the notice that Dera Sacha Sauda Sirsa premise have started storing petrol, diesel in drums at Naam Charcha Ghars in district Faridkot,” the office of Punjab DGP (Law and Order) said, in an alert issued to district police chiefs, IGs, and DIGs.

“They have stored sharp-edged weapons and stones on the roof of Naam Charcha Ghars.”

(Photo: The Quint)

The police has been asked to make adequate security arrangements in order to thwart any untoward incident.

Section 144 Imposed in Haryana

Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh governments have imposed prohibitory orders and banned the holding of flag marches ahead of the verdict.

Senior police and administrative officers of Haryana, Punjab, and Chandigarh held meetings on 23 August to take stock of the security, officials said.

“Section 144 (which bars gathering of more than four persons at a place) has been imposed in all the districts of Haryana,” Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas said.

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar also held parleys with the top police and administrative brass.

The Haryana government has also requested the Centre to provide 115 companies of paramilitary forces, Niwas said.

Duty magistrates have been deployed at all locations, Niwas said, adding that additional duty magistrates were deployed in some districts.

Anticipating danger in case there was a conviction in the case, the Haryana State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (HSCPCR) chairperson Jyoti Bainda wrote to Director General of Police BS Sandhu asking him to take measures for the safety of the children living in protection homes located in Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda, reported Tribune.

Police personnel outside the CBI court in Chandigarh. (Photo: Puneet M)

Security Beefed up in Punjab and Chandigarh

Punjab and Haryana have been granted 75 and 35 companies of central forces, respectively, to maintain security.

Police, along with paramilitary forces like the Rapid Action Force (RAF) and SSB, held flag marches at vulnerable places, including Moga, Bathinda, Sangrur, Barnala, Patiala, Ludhaina, Panchkula, Sirsa, Fatehabad, Ambala, and Hisar, officials said.

This is not Singh’s first brush with the law. The head of the sect previously courted controversy when he dressed up as the 10th Sikh master, Guru Gobind Singh, in 2007 – a move that angered the community.

(With inputs from PTI, Indian Express, Tribune)

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