Violent clashes erupts in Indian Punjab, many feared dead, News and updates thread.
17 dead, scores injured in mob violence after court convicts Dera chief in rape case: Key facts
Panchkula in Haryana was the worst hit where the Dera chief's supporters, who had gathered outside the court premises, went on a rampage after the verdict.
New Delhi: At least 17 people were killed and more than 200 were injured as spiralling violence continued in Haryana's Panchkula city after a CBI court on Friday convicted Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 2002 rape case.
The quantum of the sentence will be pronounced on August 28.
Panchkula was the worst hit where the Dera chief's supporters, who had gathered outside the court premises, went on a rampage after the verdict. Curfew has been imposed in various places, including Panchkula, Bathinda, Ferozepur and Mansa.
Here are the 10 latest developments after the court verdict:
1. Two empty rakes of the Rewa Express were torched in Delhi's Anand Vihar railway station as the spiralling violence spread to the NCR region. Earlier, the Malout Railway Station and a petrol pump in Punjab were set on fire by protesters.
2. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Khattar has briefed Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the prevailing situation, which is being monitored closely. Khattar said strict action will be taken against those trying to disrupt peace.
3. Army columns moved in Haryana's Sirsa for quick reaction, as violent protests continue.
4. To maintain law and order, 10 BSF companies, CRPF personnel and around 57,000 police officials are on duty in the affected states. The Army is also on standby.
5. In light of widespread property damage, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has ordered attachment of Dera Sacha Sauda properties so that the money retrieved can be used to compensate victims.
6. Police opened baton charge and fired tear gas shells and water canons on the Dera supporters in Panchkula after they attacked media persons and vandalised media vans. Live bullets were also fired in the air to disperse crowds.
7. The rape case against Ram Rahim dates back to 2002. Two women followers of Ram Rahim sent anonymous letters to then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, accusing the Dera chief of raping them and other sadhvis in his sprawling Dera campus.
8. Following the letter, a case was registered by the CBI against the self-styled godman after allegations of sexual exploitation of the sadhvis.
9. During the probe, the CBI questioned the sadhvis who had left the Dera. The sadhvis reportedly made shocking allegations against Ram Rahim and two of them accused him of having raped them on account of ‘purity’.
10. The hearing in the case has been on since 2007 when the CBI filed a chargesheet against the Dera chief.
11. The Dera chief also faces trial in another case involving the murder of a journalist, Ram Chander Chhatrapati and his follower Ranjit Singh in 2002.
Zee news