Haryana cops hold Honeypreet guilty of inciting violence
PANCHKULA: The Haryana police on Tuesday filed its charge sheet in the August 25 Panchkula violence, holding rape convict Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s adopted daughter Honeypreet as the main accused in the arson that left 36 people dead.
Along with Honeypreet, the police also framed charges against 14 others in its 1,200-page charge sheet for inciting Dera Sacha Sauda followers to carry out violence after the sect’s chief was convicted in a rape case.
On August 25, the Dera followers that had assembled outside the Panchkula court in large numbers went on a rampage setting fire to vehicles, government buildings and media vans after news of Ram Rahim’s conviction spread. In the ensuing police action, 36 people lost their lives while six more deaths were reported in Sirsa, where the sect’s headquarters is situated.
Honeypreet has been charged with Sections 120B (criminal Conspiracy), 121 (waging, or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war, against government) and 121-A (conspiracy to commit offences), besides other sections including 145 (Joining or continuing in unlawful assembly) 150 (conniving with persons to join unlawful assembly), 153 (provocation with intent to cause riots of the Indian Penal Code.
CONSPIRACY HATCHED INSIDE DERA HQ
According to police charge sheet, the conspiracy to build up crowd and trigger violence in Panchkula was hatched inside dera headquarters on August 17 in the presence of Honeypreet and Aditya Insaan. She even distributed cash among Dera members to arrange logistics for the arson.
POLICE SILENT ON RAM RAHIM’S ROLE
The police remained silent on the involvement of Dera chief in the violence even though it is believed that the sect’s followers took the law in their hands to prevent Ram Rahim’s arrest.
Panchkula police commissioner AS Chawla, who in past had not ruled out a case against Ram Rahim, told Hindustan T that their investigation in the case was still on.
“One main accused, Aditya Insan, is still at large and yet to be arrested. We want to interrogate him first before making a final decision in this matter,” he said
Chawla also added that police might also interrogate the Dera chief during course of its future investigation if it feels the need.