GEARING UP FOR THE DERA VERDICT
Haryana and Punjab are on maximum alert ahead of the court judgment in a sexual exploitation case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh on August 25.
As a precautionary measure, government has ordered closure of schools and colleges in Panchkula district on August 24 and 25, deputy commissioner Gauri Parashar Joshi said on Wednesday.
Nearly 50,000 dera followers, intelligence sources say 1 lakh, are estimated to have already reached and many more are still arriving at the sect’s Sector-23 based Naam Charcha Ghar (congregation/prayer centre) in Panchkula to show their solidarity with the sect chief, who has been asked to appear in person in the special CBI court on Friday.
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 rape of two ‘sadhvis’ (female followers) by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. He has denied these charges. Singh also faces trial in another case involving the murder of a journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati.
Central Reserve Police Force will be deployed in Panchkula during the hearing on Friday.
In Chandigarh, 5,000 policemen are guarding the city, while an equal number have been deployed in Panchkula, while 2,000 are on duty in Mohali. Chandigarh police chief TS Luthra said the border was sealed and only those with a valid reason are being allowed to enter the city.