Many dead in Panchkula violence as Dera chief found guilty of rape

Haryana Government had made complete arrangements; the mob was really huge: Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana CM #RamRahimVerdict pic.twitter.com/qE7ie3WYqY

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2017

Vehicles burnt, media OB vans torched; action will be taken against those who took law in their hands: Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana CM pic.twitter.com/LxYBUGsps5

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2017

The law & order situation is being closely monitored. I reviewed the situation with the NSA & Home Secretary.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 25, 2017

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"> <p dir="ltr" lang="en"> The instances of violence today are deeply distressing. I strongly condemn the violence &amp; urge everyone to maintain peace.</p> &mdash; Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi/status/901101429800091650">August 25, 2017</a></blockquote>

Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar visits Civil Hospital in Panchkula to meet those injured in violent protests #RamRahimVerdict pic.twitter.com/acufgGpewM

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2017

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was lodged in a make-shift jail at a police training centre in Rohtak soon after his conviction in a rape case today.

"Gurmeet Ram Rahim has been put in (special jail at) PTC Sunaria," Rohtak Deputy Commissioner Atul Kumar told PTI, adding, tight security arrangements have been made.

Judge Jagdeep Singh of CBI special court at Panchkula convicted the self-styled godman and said the quantum of sentence will be pronounced on August 28, CBI counsel H P S Verma said.

Immediately after his conviction, followers of the Sirsa based Dera went on rampage and clashed with security personnel leaving many dead and injured.

"Tight security arrangements have been put in place in Rohtak," the DC said.

(Inputs from PTI)

Bathinda: Heavy security in place; Rapid Action force also deployed. #RamRahimVerdict pic.twitter.com/XyD3dlwWlV

&mdash; ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2017

The hearing for deciding the quantum of punishment to Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, convicted in a rape case by a CBI court in Panchkula today, will take place through video-conferencing on August 28.

The judgment, holding Singh guilty of raping two female followers, mentions that the hearing will be held through video-conferencing, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources said.

The quantum of sentence will be pronounced on August 28, CBI counsel HPS Verma told reporters outside the court in Haryana.

The punishment can be a jail term not less than seven years but may even extend to life imprisonment.

(Inputs from PTI)

Bollywood celebrities Anupam Kher, Raveena Tandon and Hansal Mehta among others have hailed the verdict of a CBI special court holding Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh guilty of raping and sexually exploiting two female disciples. They also condemned the large-scale violence let loose by Dera followers in the wake of his conviction.

Several Bollywood celebrities took to Twitter to condemn the arson and violence by Dera followers in Punjab, Haryana and even in Delhi, and urged them to maintain peace.

(Inputs from IANS)

Three people were today arrested in connection with arson in Delhi after the conviction of self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case, even as police claimed that the situation was under control.

Madhur Verma, the Delhi Police's Public Relations Officer, said a few incidents of buses being torched by some miscreants were reported as violence spread to the national capital.

There was, however, no large gatherings of followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief in Delhi yet, Verma said, adding that adequate security arrangements were in place to deal with any eventuality.

A bus was torched allegedly by Gurmeet Ram Rahim's followers in northeast Delhi's Loni Chowk.

A fire also engulfed two coaches of the Rewa Express stationed at the Anand Vihar Railway Station here. Railway officials said it was not immediately clear if it was a case of arson and that investigations were underway.

(Inputs from PTI)

Violence and damage to public property after court verdict is highly condemnable; appeal to all citizens to maintain peace #PresidentKovind

&mdash; President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 25, 2017

The Dera Sacha Sauda today described as "unjust" a special CBI court's verdict against its guru, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, convicted in a 2002 rape case, and said it would appeal against it.

In a statement in Hindi, signed by spokesperson Dilawar Insaan, the Dera also appealed for peace amid widespread violence that has already claimed 17 lives after the verdict was pronounced earlier today.

"This is unjust. We will appeal against the judgment," the statement said.

"What has happened with us is something that has happened to gurus through history. Dera Sacha Sauda is dedicated to the betterment of humanity. We request all to maintain peace," the statement further read.

(Inputs from PTI)

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was briefed on Friday about the situation in Haryana and Punjab as violence erupted in both states after a court in Panchkula convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case.

Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and Intelligence Bureau Chief Rajiv Jain met the Prime Minister and briefed them about the prevailing situation in both states, an official told IANS.