Panchkula/Chandigarh: Security forces remained on high alert on Saturday in Panchkula as an uneasy calm prevailed in the district after incidents of violence a day ago left at least 31 people dead following the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's conviction in a 2002 rape case.
Latest developments:
- Army, Rapid Action Force and police have gheraoed the Dera headquarter at Haryana's Sirsa. The forces are appealing to over one lakh supporters still present inside to vacate the premises.
- Flag marches were held by the Army in 10 places in southwest Punjab's Malwa belt and Panchkula and Sirsa towns in Haryana.
- Giving chilling account of the past few days, a Panchkula youth said, "We have been living in a state of terror. Thursday and over the past few days we have been wondering if this is Panchkula or a city in some war-torn country."
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- The Deputy Commissioner of Police in Panchkula has been suspended by Haryana government.
- Normal life in Sirsa, which is the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda sect, has been badly affected. Milk supply has also been affected adversely in several areas as the agitated followers set a milk plant on fire, located near the sect headquarters.
- Police have detained 15 Dera Sacha Sauda followers since Friday night.
- After reports of Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh being given special treatment surfaced, Director General of Police (DG) Prisons said that the former is being treated as a normal prisoner.
"The Dera chief has been locked up in District Jail, Sonaria at Rohtak and is being treated like a normal prisoner according to the Haryana jail manual," Singh said.
"There is no air conditioner in the cell where he is locked and is also kept under the surveillance of two prisoners as per the jail manual,” he said further.
- The normal life has come to a standstill due to curfew-like restrictions imposed by the authorities to prevent any untoward incident. Curfew continued on Saturday in a few districts in south-west Punjab, including Mansa, Bathinda, Patiala, Fazilka, Ferozepore, Faridkot, Malout, Sangrur and Barnala following the violence. Curfew also continued in Panchkula, Sirsa and Kaithal towns in Haryana.
- Delhi, which is on alert, is calm. Giving details regarding the situation in the national capital, Delhi Police tweeted, “Situation is under control. There is no gathering and no incident of violence reported since yesterday. Adequate force deployed,” adding that “As the situation unfolds and based on the intelligence inputs, decision to review prohibitory orders under 144 CrPC shall be taken later.”
