Dera must compensate for losses, submit list of properties: Punjab and Haryana high court

CHANDIGARH: Punjab and Haryana high court on Friday came down heavily on Dera Sacha Sauda after its followers indulged in arson and violence following Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s conviction and ordered the dera to furnish details of its properties for attachment.
HC said the dera would have to compensate for the losses caused due to arson and violence. The court directed the security forces not to hesitate from using “mighty force”, if required, to maintain law and order in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh.It also ordered paramilitary security to all Panchkula court judges once Haryana cops are withdrawn.
“Keeping in view the fresh eruption of violence in Punjab, the Union government is directed to provide more security with Army backup,” the court said. “In case any politician or anybody else, including ministers, interferes in the enforcement of law, FIR be registered against them. In case of failure on the part of the police officer to register an FIR, similar action would be called against him,” it added.
The court asked the security forces not to shy away from using weapons. “We do not want police to be beaten up by them (dera followers) as has been observed in the past during the Jat reservation case,” the court said.
Punjab advocate general Atul Nanda informed the court about the situation in various districts of Punjab and cited incidents of arson in Bathinda, Mansa and Ferozepur. “There are reports about use of petrol bombs at some places,” he said while asking for more paramilitary forces from the Centre.
Haryana advocate general B R Mahajan told the court that Panchkula was under curfew and some incidents of attack on media vehicles and casualties had been reported.
Advocate Mohinder Joshi, who is a former dera follower told the court that the dera authorities got the followers to sign ‘qurbani wala’ (pledge to sacrifice life) form a few weeks ago. “Earlier also the sect followers had committed self-immolation, saying the dera chief was being harassed by courts,” he said.