Security has been strengthened in Haryana and Punjab ahead of sentencing of Dera Saccha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case by the CBI court.The sentence will be delivered by special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh at the Sunaria jail in Rohtak, where Dera chief has been kept in judicial custody.
Punajb and Haryana High court has ordered the Haryana government to make arrangements for the special CBI Judge and two staff members, who will reach by helicopter at Rohtak.
Additional Director General of Police Muhammad Akil said, hearing will start at 2.30 pm today. The area around 10 kilometers near the jail on all sides has been sealed. Only persons bearing the pass would be allowed to enter there.
Meanwhile, the state government has taken all steps to maintain law and order in the state. Director General of Police, B S Sandhu told media this evening that orders have been issued for taking strict action against anybody trying to disturb peace.
He said, security has been tightened in Rohtak Jail and 23 companies of paramilitary forces besides the state police personnel have been deployed in Rohtak district.
Mr Sandhu said, 926 people have been arrested so far. He also said that out of 38 people, who died during violence in Panchukla and Sirsa, 24 have been identified. Additional Chief Secretary of Home department Ram Niwas said, Centre has sent 30 more companies of paramilitary forces.
Our correspondent reports that curfew has been lifted from Kaithal district, however, it is still continuing in Sirsa district. The army and paramilitary forces are staging flag march in the sensitive district of the both the States.
The Sirsa administration has decided to provide buses for Gurmeet Singh’s followers willing to leave the sect’s headquarters. Army and paramilitary forces have appealed to Dera followers inside the sect’s headquarters to vacate the area.
Sedition and attempt to murder charges have been slapped against seven security personnel, including five Haryana police personnel, who were part of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief’s security paraphernalia when he had arrived at Panchkula to appear in a CBI court on Friday.
Police said, the seven security personnel had allegedly tried to free the Dera chief when he was brought outside Panchkula Court complex after his conviction in the rape case. Officials said, Mobile internet services will remain suspended in Haryana and Punjab till Tuesday.
Besides, they said, all educational institutions in Panchkula, Rohtak, Kaithal, Ambala, Bhiwani and Fatehabad districts will remain closed tomorrow.
Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Sunday visited Bathinda, Mansa, Malout and other sensitive districts in Malwa region of Punjab to review the law and order situation.