Dera supporters stocking petrol, weapons: Police
Letter from HQ cautions districts, DGP makes whirlwind tour
CHANDIGARH: With tension mounting ahead of the August 25 verdict in a rape case against Dera Sac ha Saud a chief G ur meet Ram Rahim, Punjab Police are on their ties after inputs that dera congregation centres have started storing petrol, diesel and weapons.
In a letter issued on behalf of the DGP (law and order) to all SSPs, commissioner of police, the officers have been told to stay alert to prevent any such activity by the dera. DGP Suresh Arora on Tuesday took a whirlwind tour to review security arrangements in Bat hinda, Mans a, Mo ga & Patiala.
CHANDIGARH: Amid intelligence reports about possibility of violence if the August 25 verdict in a rape case goes against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, the Punjab police have got information that Dera Sacha Sauda’s ‘ naam charcha ghar’ (congregation/prayer centres) have started storing petrol, diesel and weapons.
As per a letter issued by the inspector general of police or IGP (law and order), on behalf of the director general of police (law and order), to all SSPs, commissioner of police and IGPs, the officers have been told to be alert against such actions by the dera.
“It has come to light that the Dera Sacha Sauda in its naam charcha ghar have started storing diesel and petrol and have also started storing sharpedged weapons on roofs. They may use this against government property or police on August 25 if verdict of the court comes against dera. You all are requested to check this sort of activities by the dera in your region, and depute appropriate manpower to prevent such activity,” states the letter.
The verdict will be declared by the CBI court in Panchkula after more than a decade of trial proceedings over allegations by two female ex-followers of the dera head that they were sexually exploited at the sect headquarters in Sirsa (Haryana).
Meanwhile, Punjab director general of police (DGP) Suresh Arora on Tuesday took a whirlwind tour of Bathinda, Mansa, Moga, Patiala, Ludhiana, Fateh- garh Sahib and Mohali districts, and checked preparedness. The dera has following concentrated in the inter-state border region.
Chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh, who also holds the home portfolio, is learnt to have provided the DGP with the government chopper in which he took the tour to save time. The police chief was accompanied by DGP (law and order) Hardeep Dhillon and DGP (intelligence) Dinkar Gupta, and their stoppages and meetings were at Bathinda and Patiala, among other places. Now, the DGP has been provided a free hand in using the chopper in the current situation, said sources.
“We have all the preparedness to maintain law and order. At the same time, I am sure that people of Punjab will not indulge in any activity that will spoil the peace of the state,” the DGP told Hindustan Times.
Meanwhile, speaking with reporters in Delhi, the CM warned against any attempts to disrupt law and order. “The people should accept any court judgement,” he added.
Heavy deployment is being done in Mohali that has a boundary with Panchkula where the judgment would be pronounced. Panchkula has already been witnessing congregation of thousands of the dera’s followers.
Inspector general of police (Patiala range) AS Rai said at least 10,000 personnel of the state police and rapid action force will be deployed across the range that covers six districts — Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Rupnagar, Mohali and Fatehgarh Sahib.
“From today, all roads leading to Panchkula via Punjab have been put under monitoring, and intelligence officials are already keeping a tab on movement of dera followers. The idea is to not allow entry of the followers to Panchkula on the judgment day,” said a senior police officer.
Heavy police bandobast has been made in Bathinda, which shares its border with Sirsa – the headquarters of the dera. Police are also in touch with the dera followers and have appealed to them to keep peace. In Patiala, SSP S Bhoopati said, army officials have been contacted too for services in emergency.