(Image source from: AFP and Deccanchronicle.com)
30 Killed, 250 Injured As Dera Followers Run Riot In Haryana:- After conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case, at least 30 people were killed and 250 were injured on Friday in Panchkula, Haryana which led to violence across State. Gurmeet has been taken to the Rohtak’s Police Training College in Sunaria by the Haryana Police.
In the latest development on Friday evening, Section 144 CrPC has been imposed in 11 districts of Delhi, including New Delhi. The police said, Delhi’s north and central districts will not be under prohibitory order. Till September 8, the prohibitory orders will remain in force.
The “violence and damage to public property after court verdict” had been condemned by President Ram Nath Kovind. He has “appealed to all citizens to maintain peace.”
Kovind tweeted:
Violence and damage to public property after court verdict is highly condemnable; appeal to all citizens to maintain peace #PresidentKovind
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 25, 2017
On Friday, the Dera followers resorted to damaging public and private properties as well as attacking media persons.
Additional Chief Secretary to Haryana government Ram Niwas said the government will compensate for the losses of media personnel and the properties of others. As many as 1000 Dera followers have been detained by the Haryana Police. The followers in Panchkula have been agitating against the protest of Gurmeet. Niwas said the protesters have been identified.
“We have video footage and strict action will be taken against them. Most of the protesters ousted from city,” Niwas said, while appealing to Dera supporters to stay calm and deter the protesters.
Meanwhile, in the wake of the violence in Haryana, security has been tightened across Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, bordering areas of Uttar Pradesh. At stations along Uttar Pradesh, Haryana borders, vigil has been intensified at stations, CISF DG OP Singh said. In the wake of violence, security has been tightened at the Delhi BJP headquarters.
(Image Source: ANI news and Deccanchronicle.com)
Earlier, Northern Railway Spokesperson Neeraj Sharma had said that two empty rakes of Rewa Express at Anand Vihar Terminal railway station were set on fire. The alleged Dera supporters torched a bus in northeast Delhi’s Loni Chowk.
(Image Source: ANI news and Deccanchronicle.com)
A bus was also set ablaze near Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital in Delhi.
(Image Source: ANI news and Deccanchronicle.com)
However, the Delhi Police PRO, Mr. Madhur Verma said the situation is under control in the capital. Three miscreants have been arrested and patrolling is underway in different areas, added Verma. At Delhi metro stations, alert has been sounded.
The public have been appealed by Union Minister Rajnath Singh and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal to maintain peace after violence in Haryana and Punjab. Meanwhile, in view of violent protests in Punjab and Haryana, Section 144 has been imposed in Muzaffarnagar, Shamli and Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh, and also in Noida and Ghaziabad.
In view of the violence at different places, the Punjab government has asked the Centre for more security forces. The Army has been called out in Haryana’s Sirsa to control the Dera Sacha Sauda followers.
Amid reports of violence, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi has said that the Haryana DGP told him that the “situation is being brought under control gradually”.
(Image source: PTI and Deccanchronicle.com)
The agitating Dera supporters set alight an Income Tax office in Mansa, Punjab. In Punjab’s Sangrur, Patiala and Moga districts, curfew has been imposed.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had earlier appealed to “all Punjabis to maintain peace and harmony in state”. “Won’t allow anyone to disturb peace and tranquillity,” he added. He even said he was keeping a close watch on the situation in the state. He said he has briefed the Union Home Minister about the situation.
(Video Source: V6 News Telugu)
The properties of Ram Rahim Singh should be attached to pay for the losses due to violence, directed the Punjab and Haryana court. The senior government officials in Panchkula should be given security by paramilitary forces, said the High Court.
Meanwhile, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar condemned the violence, saying: “People have taken law in their hand by resorting to violence. Action will be taken against those who have violated law”.
“No one is above law. Appeal people to not believe in rumours and steer clear of people with criminal intentions,” Khattar said.
(Video Source: ABP NEWS)
The violence has also spread to Rajasthan, where Dera supporters set power sub-station office and vehicle at sub-station premises on fire in Sriganganagar. Meanwhile, Railways has canceled all trains to Rohtak in Haryana.
After a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court found Singh guilty of raping two of his women followers, the Dera followers turned violent. After the violence erupted, as many as 600 Army men were deployed in Panchkula. In Panchkula and in Muktsar, Bathinda, Mansa in Punjab, curfew has been imposed.
The Dera followers went on rampage and attacked media vans and set Malout and Balluanna railway stations and a petrol pump on fire.
(Image source: AP and Deccanchronicle.com)
(Video Source: ABP NEWS)
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