Baba’s sentence today; Hry, Punjab on toes
CBI judge to be flown to jail, will announce sentence at 2.30 pm; schools in Haryana, 13 Malwa districts of Punjab to remain closed
CHANDIGARH/ROHTAK: Haryana and Punjab stepped up security a day ahead of a court hearing on the quantum of sentence against rape convict and Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in Rohtak.
The special CBI court will pronounce the jail term during the proceedings to be held in the district jail at Sunaria where the flamboyant “godman” is lodged. CBI judge Jagdeep Singh will be flown to Rohtak and the sentence is expected to be handed out around 2.30 pm. Ram Rahim was held guilty on Friday of raping two sadhvis, following which his supporters ran riot leading to the death of 38 people — 32 in Panchkula and six in Sirsa — and injuries to around 250.
A multi-layer security cordon has been thrown around the district jail in Rohtak. A police official said 10 more companies of central armed police forces such as BSF, CISF and ITBP reached the district on Saturday night, taking the total to 23.
Rohtak DC Atul Kumar said that miscreants who try to spread violence will be shot dead. “We requested for 18 columns of army. It is on stand-by and will arrive within one hour of our request,” he said. The administration has advised the people not to travel to Rohtak unless there is urgent work. Also, 100 dera followers have been taken into preventive custody. The police have sealed all 10 ‘naam charcha ghars’ (congregation centres) of the dera in Rohtak police range. In all, 103 such centres have been searched across the state. A case of sedition has been registered against the sect head’s close aides, including Aditya Insan and Dhiman Insan, after the violence in Panchkula two days ago.
After the violent attacks on mediapersons and their vehicles by dera supporters in Panchkula, the police have made special security arrangements here for them. Haryana additional secretary, home, Ram Niwas said “foolproof” arrangements were being taken to avoid a replay of Friday’s violence. “Dus kilometre radius me parinda bhi par nahi mar sakta (Not even a bird can enter the 10 km radius of the prison). I have been assured by the top police officials and the local administration,” he told a news channel.
However, Sirsa, home to Dera’s headquarters, continues to be under lockdown and a worry for the state authorities. A media crew was allegedly assaulted near the dera. Army and central armed police forces also carried out flag march in the city. All educational institutions, including government and private schools, colleges and other institutions, will remain closed in Haryana on Monday.
Both Punjab and Haryana, which suspended all mobile Internet, data and SMS services on August 24 for 72 hours, extended the suspension of services for two more days.
The administration also decided to suspend broadband services in Sirsa. Punjab also continues to be on a high alert with curfew imposed in many areas.
“We are keeping our fingers crossed and taking all precautions to ensure that things do not out of control,” DGP, law and order, HS Dhillon said. Malwa belt of Punjab has a sizable presence of Dera followers and the police apprehend trouble from them.
Dhillon said that 18,000 police personnel and 85 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed.