Ram Rahim verdict leads to violent clashes in Punjab, Haryana; 25 Dera supporters dead

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Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh rape conviction triggers riots across Haryana, Punjab; Section 144 imposed in Noida; 25 dead

Massive violence has followed the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh for rape. A special Central Bureau of Investigation court in Panchkula, Haryana held the Dera Sacha Sauda leader guilty of rape.

The situation deteriorated soon after the conviction was announced and Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was taken into custody. There have been nearly 300 incidents of violence reported from across Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.

LATEST UPDATES:

  • Sirsa, where the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda is located, is also under curfew.
  • At least one thousand Dera Sacha Sauda followers have been detained by police in Haryana, Haryana’s ADGP (Law & Order) Muhammad Akil said.
  • Section 144, which prohibits assembly of five or more people, has been imposed in Gautam Budh Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh.
  • The deaths have so far been reported from Panchkula and Chandigarh.
  • Reports are now coming in that Section 144 has been imposed in Noida, Uttar Pradesh.
  • The death toll has now risen to 25.
  • The death toll in Panchkula has risen to 17, including a child.
  • The Dera Sacha Sauda has commented on the judgement saying that Ram Rahim has been wronged. The order will be appealed, the Dera added.
  • Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi shortly in order to brief the PM on the violence that has followed Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s conviction for rape.
  • Dera protesters try to set ablaze power house on fire in Jakhal area of Fatehabad in Haryana, around 200 kms from Delhi.
  • Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who earlier spoke to the Punjab and Haryana chief ministers, has also spoke to the CMs of Rajasthan and Delhi to take stock of the situation.
  • Who is Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh? Here’s all you need to know about the convicted rapist in ten points.
  • The Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered that properties of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to be attached following the massive violence that has been seen after his conviction.
  • The death toll has now reached 12.
  • Violence has spilled over to Delhi with one Delhi Transport Corporation bus and two coaches of a train being set on fire.
  • An India Today TV crew was among those who came under attack. In Sirsa, Dera men attacked an India Today TV vehicle, injuring a video journalist.
  • More than 250 Army jawans have been deployed in Panchkula.
  • Ram Rahim supporters set Malout and Balluanna railway stations ablaze in Punjab, the Northern Railway said.
  • 10 more reserve companies of the CRPF have been sent to Haryana while at least 50 more paramilitary companies have been deployed in Panchukula.
  • The death toll in the violence that followed Ram Rahim’s rape conviction has now reached 11.
  • In a related development, Central Industrial Security Force personnel deployed within one km radius of Rohtak’s Sunariya Jail.
  • Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has spoke to the chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab.
  • Curfew has so far been imposed in Punjab’s Muktsar, Bathinda and Mansa.
  • So far there have been 224 incidents of violence in Haryana. 64 instances of violence have been reported from Punjab.
  • The death toll of those killed in clashes with police in Panchkula has now risen to five.
  • Curfew has also been clamped in Panchkula, where the CBI court today found Gurmeet Ram Rahim to be guilty of rape.
  • Reports also coming in of curfew being imposed in Bhatinda, Punjab.
  • Meanwhile, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is being taken to the Western Command Headquarters in Chandimandir. From Chandimandir he will be flown out on a helicopter to either the Rothak Jail or to Gurugram.
  • Telephone exchange torched by Dera protestors in Chananwal in Punjab’s Barnala.
  • Reports now coming in that three Dera Sacha Sauda followers have been killed in police firing in Panchkula.
  • An India Today TV crew was attacked in Sirsa. The TV team’s cameraman Pradeep Gupta was injured in the attack.
  • Reports now coming in of curfew being imposed in Ferozpur, Punjab.
  • Followers of rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh attempted to set a railway station on fire. Punjab Police has reached the spot.
  • Haryana chief minister Amarinder Singh has issued an appeal for peace on Twitter. In a video posted on the social media network, CM Amarinder said, “I appeal to all Punjabis to maintain peace and harmony in the state. We won’t allow anyone to disturb the peace & tranquility of our state.”
  • India Today’s OB van attacked by angry Dera supporters in Panchkula.
  • Reports of tear gas shelling by police, paramilitary forces in sector 3, Panchkula, to control Dera supporters.
  • Power cut in a few residential areas in Panchkula as precautionary measure.
  • Dera supporters being evicted from Panchkula and Chandigarh.
  • Haryana Police to conduct medical test of Baba Ram Rahim before taking him to jail.
  • Army carries out flag march in Panchkula after the court verdict against Baba Ram Rahim.
  • Gurmeet Ram Rahim held guilty of rape by special CBI court in Panchukula.
  • Gurmeet Singh was charged in a 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.

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