A mob in Panchkula charged police barricades, attacked media vans and set vehicles on fire.
Delhi and Uttar Pradesh were put on high alert this evening after largescale violence broke out in neighbouring Haryana following the
conviction of self-styled spiritual leader of Dera Sacha Sauda,Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, in a rape case. Within the hour, it spread to neighbouring Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. By late evening, 30 people reportedly died and 150 were injured.
Even though there have been no specific inputs of Dera followers planning to create trouble here, security has been strengthened in the national capital as a precautionary measure, reported news agency Press Trust of India, quoting a senior police officer. The security in areas bordering Haryana has been upped as well, the police said.
The
violence started in Panchkula, a city 11 km away from Chandigarh, after the
court delivered a guilty verdict. The mob charged at police barricades, attacked media vans and set several vehicles, including a fire engine, on fire. Within hours, the army was called in.
Within the hour, it spread to Punjab and Himachal Pradesh. A petrol pump and part of a train station have reportedly been set on fire in Malaout in Punjab. Ferozepur, Bathinda , and Mansa were placed under curfew. Reports of violence came in from the national highway in Shimla too.
Over the last four days, an estimated crowd of 1.5 lakh people had poured into Panchkula to await the verdict in the rape case in which Ram Rahim has been accused.
The hordes of "premis", as Ram Rahim's followers call themselves, triggered a security nightmare and brought the local administration to its knees. Thousands of police and paramilitary troops had been deployed to keep the peace -authorized to use force if necessary by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Around midnight, in a message, Ram Rahim had urged his followers to go home. But his followers said they would respectfully disregard his appeal.