Ram Rahim rape case verdict: Widespread violence was witnessed in Punjab and Haryana.
Self-styled spiritual guru and rape convict
Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was moved to a prison in Haryana's Rohtak late Friday as a court in Panchkula found him guilty of raping two women followers in 2002. After a dramatic kick-off from his headquarter in Sirsa with his
200-car convoy, Ram Rahim was taken to Rohtak by helicopter, after being convicted and arrested. As he landed in Rohtak, Ram Rahim was taken to a police guest house that served as a makeshift jail. He was shifted to a prison only much later in the evening. After the judgement was announced, thousands of his followers gathered in Panchkula erupted in violence, setting vehicles and public property on fire and clashing with the police.
The outburst of violence has left 36 dead and over 250 injured.
Here are the live updates following Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim's Rape case conviction:
Right now, situation in most parts of Haryana and its neighbouring state Punjab remain calm, say police and administration. However, several towns including Sirsa and Panchkula remain under curfew. Political tug of war between BJP and opposition parties has taken the fore now.
The judgment in Ram Rahim's case
will be announced in the Rohtak jail on Monday.
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NDTV.com for updates on the judgment on Monday.
Watch Left Right Centre: Haryana Riots- BJP Self Goal In Backing Khattar?
A day after widespread violence and rioting following the verdict against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Punjab and Haryana High Court came out with some stinging words for the Haryana Chief Minister ML Khattar and even Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the free hand given to his supporters to go on the rampage. But the BJP decides to stand by ML Khattar. Is this going to be a political self goal, Left, Right and Centre team finds out
No VIP treatment to Ram Rahim in jail, Haryana government clarifies
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh will tour some "vulnerable" areas in the state to thank people and security forces for ensuring peace despite the tension.
In view of deteriorating law and order situation in Haryana, Jammu and Punjab area, here are the trains cancelled down south
1. Train No. 22685, Yesvantpur-Chandigarh Superfast Karnataka Sampark Kranthi Express journey commencing from Yesvantpur on 26.08.2017 is cancelled.
2. Train No. 82651, Yesvantpur-Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Katra Suvidha Express Journey commencing from Yesvantpur on 26.08.2017 is cancelled.
3. Train No. 22686, Chandigarh-Yesvantpur Superfast Karnataka Sampark Kranthi Express Journey commencing on 26.08.2017 is cancelled.
Till now, 552 people have been arrested in connection to violence in Punjab and Haryana yesterday; 24 police vehicles have been damaged.
JUST IN:Sirsa district administration decides to relax curfew from 6 AM to 11 AM tomorrow.
Mayawati seeks dismissal of Haryana government over violence in the stateBahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief Mayawati on Saturday demanded the dismissal of the Manoharlal Khattar government in Haryana for failing to curb the violence that erupted after a CBI court convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a rape case.
In a statement here on Saturday, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister said the loss of lives, damage to property and cancellation of over 500 trains was a huge national loss and the BJP government in Haryana was responsible for failing to contain the violet outburst of the Dera sect.
She also accused the BJP of not acting in the wake of the violence in Panchkula and other parts of Haryana as it had "vote bank politics on its mind".
Arrangements being made for Ram Rahim's court in Rohtak: Police
'You let Panchkula burn for political motives': How court ripped into Haryana
Delhi to remain on high alert today too: PoliceHigh alert continues in Delhi. No incident reported. Section 144 to continue in the said areas till further order. Won't affect normal life: Delhi Police spokesman. Nine cases of arson were reported in Delhi yesterday after Ram Rahim Singh's supporters went violent.
In case you missed it, here's why Deputy Advocate General Gurdass Singh Salwara was sacked todayThe top lawyer was caught on camera holding self-styled spiritual leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's bag after his conviction in a rape case
One more person dead in Sirsa taking the total death toll in violent protests in the town and Panchkula to 32, reports news agency ANI.
For Gurmeet Ram Rahim's sentencing in rape case, judge to be taken to Rohtak prison.
JUST IN:Deputy Advocate General Gurdass Singh Salwara sacked, reports news agency ANI. He reportedly carried Ram Rahim Singh's luggage after the latter was convicted in rape case.
A day after widespread violence, arson and rioting left 31 people dead and property worth crores destroyed by angry supporters of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in Panchkula following his conviction in a rape case, the Haryana Police today said
the jailed spiritual guru will not be brought to Panchkula for the sentencing on Monday. CBI court judge Jagdeep Singh while convicting the Dera chief in the 2002 rape case and sexual exploitation of two female followers, said the quantum of punishment for the 50-year-old leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect would be handed out on August 28.
There were no deaths in Punjab, everything was peaceful here. There was no firing, lathicharge: Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh
Near the
Sirsa campus, 2 AK-47s and a pistol have been found in a car. Centres of the sect in different cities, referred to as
Naam Charcha Ghars, are being searched and sealed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi was not spared as a furious court today reprimanded Haryana and the central governments over the deadly rioting by self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim's followers after his conviction for rape. "
He is the Prime Minister of not the BJP but of India," said the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Amit Malviya, Head of IT, BJP tweets in support of the Haryana government
Nearly three hours of arson and vandalism left Panchkula, always seen as a peaceful second option to adjoining Chandigarh,
badly scarred.
"No special treatment is being given to him (Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh). He is being treated like any other ordinary prisoner. An ordinary prisoner sleeps on floor and he, too, is doing the same," Depinder Singh said today.
28 deaths in Panchkula - 24 men, 3 women and a child. Three deaths have been reported from Sirsa: Haryana Chief Secretary Depinder Singh.
Haryana chief secretary Depinder Singh Dhesi says Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's 'Z plus' security withdrawn after his conviction in rape case, reports Press Trust of India.
Curfew has been imposed in Panchkula, Sirsa and Kaithal in Haryana as well in some towns in Punjab. After Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was held guilty of rape by a court in Panchkula yesterday, former CBI joint director Mulinja Narayanan, who headed the investigations against the influential Dera Sacha Sauda chief revealed that he was under pressure to close the case and described it as a "
game of wits".
Search of all 'congregation centres' of Dera Sacha Sauda in Haryana ordered, says Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas, reports Press Trust of India.
Chief Minister of Punjab, Captain Amarinder Singh said, "Just been briefed by DGP, situation peaceful, curfew lifted in 3 districts, relaxed in all others this morning. State on alert for 48 hrs."
Dera Sacha Sauda describes itself as a social welfare and spiritual organisation and says it has 50 million followers and has a matrix of popular centres across Punjab and Haryana. Its sprawling 100-acre campus in Sirsa, Haryana, has its own schools, sports village, hospital, confectionery, a spice factory, agricultural farm and a cinema hall.
For a recap of Dera Sacha Sauda chief, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's rape verdict, click
here.