Chandigarh: The Army was called out in Panchkula on Thursday, where a CBI court is set to deliver its verdict in a rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Friday, even as large parts of Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh remained in a virtual lock-down mode.
In Sirsa also, where Dera Sacha Sauda is based, Army was called out to ensure peace. A curfew was imposed in the highly sensitive Sirsa town and three neighbouring villages on Thursday, officials said.
Meanwhile, thousands of ‘premis’, as Dera followers are known, meanwhile, continued to flock to Panchkula for a glimpse of their ‘Pita ji’, posing a tough challenge for the security agencies.
The Dera Sacha Sauda followers, estimated to be over 1.5 lakh, camped in parks, on the road in Panchkula to show solidarity with their icon. However, their whopping numbers numbers created a security nightmare.
The inability of the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana to stop the massive build up earned it a rap on Thursday from the Punjab and Haryana High Court which made it clear it would not allow a repeat of violence witnessed during last year’s Jat agitation when several people were killed.
The court, which was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by a Panchkula resident, warned that it could even take action against the Haryana DGP if proper security arrangements were not made.
The Court also asked the Centre to provide adequate forces for the maintenance of law and order.
In neighbouring Punjab, Chief Minister Amariner Singh authorised the state DGP Suresh Arora to impose curfew, if necessary, to maintain law and order.
Fearing trouble, especially if the verdict goes against the controversial Dera chief, thousands of jawans, including 15,000 paramilitary troops, have been deployed in sensitive areas across Punjab and Haryana.
Dera Sacha Sauda has a huge following in both the states, which are on a high alert.
Mobile internet services were suspended for 72 hours in both the states and their joint capital Chandigarh while authorities are keeping a close watch on social media posts also, officials said.
However, in what appeared to be some relief for a stretched administrative machinery, Ram Rahim Singh said on Thursday that he would appear in person before the special CBI court while appealing to his followers to maintain peace.
“I have always respected the law. Even though I am having a backache, still abiding by law, I will go to court (tomorrow). I have full faith in God. Everyone should maintain peace,” the sect chief tweeted.
The sexual exploitation case was registered against the Dera chief in 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after anonymous letters were circulated about the alleged sexual exploitation of two ‘sadhvis’ (female followers) by Ram Rahim Singh. The Dera chief, however, has denied these charges.
