
Sirsa is under a lockdown on the day of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's sentencing (PTI)
Quick Take
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Ram Rahim, convicted in rape case on Friday, to be sentenced today
Police likely to search his sect's base in Sirsa, look for weapons
Tight security in Sirsa after huge violence on day of his conviction
"As far as Sirsa (Dera) is concerned, people (Dera followers) are coming out of it (Dera premises). After the sentence is pronounced tomorrow, we will try to carry out search at the Dera. But as of now, there is no such plan," Haryana police chief BS Sandhu had told reporters on Sunday.
In searches at various Dera congregation centres, the police have found a large number of weapons, cars, bikes and "other objectionable items," says Haryana police chief BS Sandhu.
These include a big knife, a sword and 18 sharp weapons, apart from 104 sticks, 48 iron rods, bottles of diesel, petrol and kerosene, two grass cutter swords, axes, sickles, saws, scissors, canes and pepper spray.
Over 100 congregation centres known as "Naam Charcha Ghars" have been searched and many have been closed down.
Some 30,000 followers who had refused to leave the campus were moved out yesterday in state-run buses. The army took out flag marches last night and additional forces were called in.
Dera followers started trickling out of the campus on Saturday but several are still believed to be inside.
Locals have been asked to stay indoors.
The 50-year-old Dera chief has been in Rohtak's Sunaria jail since Friday, when he was convicted of raping two followers in 2002 by a special CBI court in Panchkula.
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