2 states on edge as 1 lakh dera supporters camp in Panchkula
Schools, colleges to remain shut in Punjab, Haryana tomorrow, PRTC not to ply buses to neighbouring state, Chandigarhbound Haryana buses to terminate at Ambala
CHANDIGARH/PANCHKULA: Punjab and Haryana maintained maximum alert as over one lakh followers of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh reached Panchkula on Wednesday ahead of the August 25 court verdict in a rape case against him.
Though this was the “official” figure, intelligence agencies, which are constantly monitoring the situation on ground zero, put their number close to 1.5 lakh. The number of premis, as the dera followers call themselves, is expected to swell further by the morning with more and more of them trooping in from adjoining states of Punjab, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Dera spokesperson Aditya Insaan claimed that six lakh followers had already reached Panchkula. The dera management, which has asked them to reach the city, expects 15 lakh of them on the ground by Friday.
The followers said they were in Panchkula to express solidarity with “pitaji” (dera chief) and warned that the authorities would be responsible for any adverse order against him.
An alarmed Haryana government, which dubbed the dera claim as “highly exaggerated”, has ordered closure of schools, colleges and offices in Panchkula, cancelled leave of all government officials, medical paramedical staff and deferred job interviews for next two days. Chandigarh-bound travellers from Delhi and parts of Haryana are set to face a tough time as state-run roadways has decided to terminate all its buses at Ambala. The decision has been taken to stop the dera followers from reaching the two cities.
However, all buses originating from Chandigarh will ply on their routes as usual. “The government will take every step, including imposition of curfew, required to maintain the law and order. We will also call in the army, if necessary,” additional chief secretary, home, Ram Niwas, said.
Similarly, the Punjab government is also not taking any chances. It decided to shut all schools and colleges across the state on August 25, besides ordering withdrawal of 1,000 police personnel from VVIP security for deployment on field duty to strengthen the security blanket in the state. The PRTC will not ply Haryana-bound buses on August 25 as a precautionary measure. The state received an additional 10 companies of the BSF, taking the total number of central paramilitary companies to 85.
The case was registered by the CBI in 2002 on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana HC after anonymous letters were circulated about the alleged rape of two ‘sadhvis’ (female followers) by Ram Rahim Singh.
CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government has imposed prohibitory order against assembly of people, under section 144, across the entire state with immediate effect and decided to shut all schools and colleges in Punjab on August 25, the day of the court verdict in a rape case against Dera Sacha Saud a chief G ur meet Ram Ra him Singh.
A ban has been imposed on carrying of firearms, with orders to shutdown private gun houses selling arms and ammunition to licence-holders, until the situation normalises, an official spokesperson said on Wednesday after a meeting convened by the chief minister in the evening to review the state’s security arrangements with the police top brass.
CM Capt Amarinder Singh also ordered withdrawal of 1,000 police personnel from V VIP security for deployment on field duty to strengthen the security blanket in the state, the spokesperson said. The meeting was attended, among others, by director general of police (DGP) Suresh Ar ora, D GP( intelligence) D ink ar Gupta and DGP (law and order) Hardeep Singh Dhillon.
“The CM is very strict on the issue and his orders are: ‘Don’t allow anybody to take law in his hands.’ His message is that the state has to maintain peace by using all options,” said an officer who did not want to be named.
Punjab has also received an additional 10 companies of the Border Security Force (BSF), which now means 85 central para military companies along with thousands of policemen on the ground will maintain a tight vi gil, especially in the vulnerable areas of Mo ga, Bat hinda, San gr ur, Barnala, Patiala and Ludhiana, where the der a, headquartered in Sirsa in neighbouring Haryana, has significant following.
Source said the Centre is ready to depute more companies to Punjab after the state home secretary apprised the Union Home secretary of the situation.
Sources in the top brass of Punjab Police told HT that the chief minister has given instructions to the police to maintain law and order at any cost and shut down the internet services in case need arises. “Keeping in view the past incidence of violence in Punjab and the recent violence in J at agitation inHaryana,it was decided that the district administration should not shy away from imposing curfew,” an officer present in the meeting with the CM said.
State police chief Sure sh Ar ora visited Sangrur, Muktsar, Ferozepur and Ludhiana districts on Wednesday to review the deployment of forces and also interacted with the central forces. “We are ready to face any situation as we cannot take any chance. Our entire force is on toes,” the DGP told HT.
D GP( law and order) H SD hillon said the army has been requested to remain alert and on standby.