Haryana back to normal
CHANDIGARH: Haryana began limping back to normalcy on Monday as no major incident of arson and violence was reported amid palpable tension after a CBI court sentenced Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to 20-year imprisonment in two rape cases.
Security forces heaved a sigh of relief as shell-shocked followers of the self-styled godman remained indoors and desisted from violence in any party of the state.
Coinciding with the sentence proceedings, a car was reportedly torched allegedly by the dera followers in Sirsa’s Phoolka area. Police said three people escaped from the spot in a luxury vehicle after the incident.
“We had issued shoot at sight orders if anyone tried to start a protest,” Ram Niwas, additional chief secretary (home) said. The authorities had imposed curfew in Sirsa, the dera headquarters.
Massive security arrangements were in place with thousands of police, paramilitary and army personnel deployed in Rohtak and Sirsa towns to prevent a repeat of last Friday’s violence in the region after the dera chief was held guilty of rape.
In Sirsa, senior IAS officer Uma Shankar, who was camping in the town to monitor the situation, said “no incident of arson and looting took place”. Inspector general (IGP), Hisar range, Amitabh Singh Dhillon said “the security forces achieved all strategic objectives”.
“We are happy that the way things are progressing, curfew in Sirsa may be eased,” Uma Shankar said.
Earlier, the library of the Sunaria jail of Rohtak, where Ram Rahim was lodged after being convicted on August 25, was converted into a courtroom due to security concerns.
Police said thousands of dera supporters were reported to be inside the Sirsa dera compound although many have left following pressure of security agencies.
In Yamunanagar and Karnal the district police along with army officials conducted a flag march in the city. Kurukshetra deputy commissioner Sumedha Kataria said that no incident of violence was reported and situation was under control. CM’S EMERGENCY MEET Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar called an emergency meeting of top officials of the state after the Dera chief was sentenced. Neighbouring Punjab has also been maintaining a vigil in sensitive districts in the Malwa region. Schools and colleges were shut across Haryana and parts of Punjab and mobile internet services will remain suspended in the two states till Tuesday noon.