Dera chief Ram Rahim Singh's conviction: 445 trains cancelled as violence erupts

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh’s followers went on a rampage after he was convicted in a rape case by a special CBI court in Panchkula.

Nearly 445 trains have been cancelled due to the worsening law and order situation in Punjab and Haryana, officials said on Friday.“485 train services have been affected (due to the violence). Of these, 445 stood cancelled,” Neeraj Sharma, spokesperson, Northern Railway, said.

The Railways said the accumulative figure for cancelled trains on six days, since August 23 till August 28, was at 445. Malout and Balluanna railway stations in Punjab were partially burnt by angry followers of the Dera chief, officials said.

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“Two stations have been affected and we are still getting inputs on the extent of damage. No injuries have been reported so far,” Sharma said. Before the court verdict, the 50-year-old Dera head had appealed to his followers to maintain peace. At least 30 people have lost their lives in the violence after the verdict was announced.

READ: Haryana CM ML Khattar admits ‘lapses’ in dealing with Dera mob

With PTI inputs