New Delhi: To bring law and order situation under control, Army and Paramilitary Forces have entered the premises of Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Haryana’s Sirsa this morning. At least 30 people were killed and over 250 injured when frenzied supporters went on a rampage after a special CBI court convicted the Dera chief Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim in a rape case.
Dera followers have been asked to vacate the Dera after entry of Armed Forces. An estimated 1.5 lakh supporters, including women and children, are believed to be present in the premises. The Army and district authorities have been making announcements through loudspeakers, asking those inside to leave the premises.
Armed Forces have set up a three-layer security cordon around the Dera headquarters. According to reports, despite several appeals by the Army and authorities, defiant followers have stayed put.
Sources said Army was last night provided with the map of the sprawling Dera campus, which is spread over nearly 1,000 acres and is a township on its own, with schools, sports village, and hospital and cinema halls.
Meanwhile, a day after the violence, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has slammed the Haryana government and said, “You allowed the city to burn for political gains. It seems the government has surrendered to agitators.”
The High Court also slammed the state government for issuing two “shoddy” Section 144 CrPC orders, in which the Panchkula district administration ordered that they shall only bar entry of people “moving with weapons”. After facing HC’s wrath, the state government quickly amended the orders and barred “assembly of five or more persons in Panchkula.”
Sources are indicating that the BJP high command is extremely upset with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The CM is set to announce his final decision later today. Meanwhile, the high-level meeting at Home Minister Rajnath Singh’s residence in New Delhi has concluded. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Intelligence Bureau Chief, and Home Secretary were present.
Security forces remained on high alert today in Panchkula as an uneasy calm prevailed in the district, the epicentre of yesterday’s violence. The Haryana Government has ordered a search of all congregation centres belonging to the Dera.
This post was published on August 26, 2017 6:59 pm