press trust of india
Chandigarh/New Delhi, August 24: Tension prevailed in normally peaceful Panchkula Thursday, a day ahead of the expected verdict in a sexual exploitation case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, thousands of whose followers have descended on this Haryana town.
Fearing trouble, especially if the verdict goes against the controversial Dera chief, thousands of jawans, including 15,000 paramilitary troops, have been deployed in sensitive areas across Punjab and Haryana. Dera Sacha Sauda has a huge following in Punjab as well as Haryana and both the states are on a high alert.
Mobile internet services have also been suspended for 72 hours in both the states and their joint capital Chandigarh while authorities are keeping a close watch on social media posts also, officials said. The authorities also restricted movement of trains and buses towards Panchkula.
However, in what appeared to be some relief for stretched administrative machinery, Ram Rahim Singh said Thursday that he would appear in person before the special CBI court Friday while appealing to his followers to maintain peace.
“I have always respected the law. Even though I am having a backache, still abiding by law, I will go to court (tomorrow). I have full faith in God. Everyone should maintain peace,” the sect chief tweeted. The sexual exploitation case was registered against the Dera chief 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 Ram Rahim Singh.
The Dera chief, however, has denied these charges. In Panchkula near Chandigarh, thousands of Dera supporters, including women and elderly, arrived and were camping in parks and open spaces. More ‘premis’, as the Dera followers are known, were pouring in. To ensure there is no trouble, there was heavy police deployment as well.
Dera followers have also been arriving in great numbers at the sect headquarters at Sirsa in Haryana. The Centre has rushed as many as 150 companies of paramilitary forces to Punjab and Haryana to assist the police forces in maintaining law and order, a senior Union home ministry official said. One paramilitary company comprises over 100 personnel.
“The central government has assured all possible help to the two state governments in dealing with any situation as a large number of followers of the Dera chief have started arriving in Panchkula, Chandigarh and nearby areas,” said another home ministry official. We are in constant touch with the governments of Punjab and Haryana and have given them adequate forces, he added.
