Army called in Panchkula as Haryana, Punjab brace for Dera chief verdict
- A special CBI court at Panchkula is set to deliver its verdict on Friday afternoon in a 2002 sexual exploitation case against the Dera head
- Security forces are facing a tough situation as many Dera followers, gathered in thousands at various places in Panchkula, remain reluctant to move
FollowWith hours left for the CBI court's verdict on Friday in a rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and tension mounting in Haryana's Panchkula, adjoining Chandigarh, the Army has been called in to deal with any situation along with other security forces.
Central para-military forces and Haryana police tried to evict the Dera supporters gathered in thousands at various places in Panchkula, through the intervening night of Thursday and Friday. However, the sect disciples stayed put.
Security forces are facing a tough situation as many Dera followers remain reluctant to move, with most saying they had come to the town on their own and will move only after after the court delivers its verdict. However, authorities said they had sealed the road leading to the district court complex in Panchkula and nobody was being allowed on that route.
"We will not move out from Panchkula till the time we have pitaji's (Ram Rahim) 'darshan'. We will wait till the court verdict," said an aged follower who had come from Bathinda in Punjab.
Ram Rahim Singh left the sect-headquarters at Sirsa, about 260 km from Chandigarh, at about 9 am amid tight security and is expected to reach Panchkula in the afternoon to remain present in the court before the verdict. The Dera chief, who enjoys 'Z' category security, is also being accompanied a number of his own security guards in a cavalcade, which includes 200 vehicles.
A special CBI court at Panchkula is set to deliver its verdict on Friday afternoon in a 2002 sexual exploitation case against the Dera head. The court is expected to pronounce verdict at around 2:30 pm.
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.
(With agency inputs)
