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Ram Rahim verdict: Haryana DGP BS Sandhu says court will be in Sonaria jail, Rohtak; arrangements being made

The Situation In Haryana’s Panchkula And Sirsa Are Inching Towards Normalcy After Violence Ripped Apart The Cities On Friday.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Arshi Aggarwal | Updated on: 26 Aug 2017, 11:58:03 PM

New Delhi:

The situation in Haryana’s Panchkula and Sirsa are inching towards normalcy after violence ripped apart the cities on Friday. The riots, which erupted after a CBI court convicted godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 15-year-old rape case, resulted in the death of at least 31, while 250 others were injured.

While 28 people were killed in Panchkula, the epicentre of the violence, three died in Sirsa.

Latest reports on Saturday said that there were no fresh incidents of violence since Friday night in Sirsa, which houses the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters, asserting that the situation is under control in the district.

“The law and order situation is under control as there has been no report of violence since last night,” said a senior police officer told PTI.

Also read | Dera violence: Rajnath Singh reviews security situation in Haryana

As it happened:

#9:12 PM: Curfew to be relaxed in Haryana's Sirsa from 6 AM-11 AM on Sunday

#8:27 PM: 7 people dead and 42 people injured from Punjab in violence in Haryana's Panchkula after Ram Rahim verdict: Punjab CM Capt Amarinder Singh

#7:48 PM: Process is underway to sanitize Dera, to see that there are no weapons or any such thing present:  DGP Haryana BS Sandhu

#7:46 PM: Weapons, petrol bombs also recovered in Panchkula. Three petrol bombs and cans seized in Karnal: DGP Haryana

#7:44 PM: 24 vehicles impounded by police in Panchkula. 5 pistols (79 rounds), 2 rifles (52 rounds), AK 47, iron rods, hockey sticks also recovered: DGP

#7:33 PM: 552 people arrested, investigation is underway: Haryana DGP BS Sandhu

#7:30 PM: 34 cases registered so far by Haryana police in the entire process: Haryana DGP BS Sandhu

#7:29 PM: Court will be in Sonaria (jail), Rohtak; arrangements being made: Haryana DGP BS Sandhu

#7:29 PM: 30 died in Punchkula, 6 in Sirsa, 269 injured: Haryana DGP BS Sandhu

#7:26 PM: No incident reported in last 24 hours, no trouble in the state. There is absolute peace: Haryana DGP BS Sandhu

#7:24 PM: There are about 3000-4000 people at Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa and they are vacating gradually: Haryana DGP BS Sandhu

#6:30 PM: Maintained high alert. No incident reported. Sec 144 to continue till further order. Won't affect normal life: Delhi Police PRO

#6:20 PM: One more person dead in Sirsa taking the total death toll in violent protests in Panchkula to 32

#5:47 PM: Notification on District Jail, Sunaria as place of sitting of CBI Court, Panchkula for pronouncement of quantum of sentence against Ram Rahim

#5:29 PM: Haryana Deputy Advocate General Gurdass Singh Salwara sacked after he reportedly carried luggage of Ram Rahim Singh

#5:23 PM: Attack on media condemnable, miscreants who entered peaceful gathering caused violence: Vipssana Insan, Chairperson, Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa

#5:12 PM: Haryana: People vacate Dera Sacha Sauda Ashram in Sirsa's Bajenka village on the orders of Police and Army and also being inspected

#5:04 PM: Ram Rahim Singh won't be produced in Panchkula: Haryana DGP B S Sandhu

#5:00 PM: Curfew will be relaxed till 6 pm today, will assess situation, if everything remains peaceful will lift curfew in coming time: SSP Bhatinda

# 4:37 PM: I will not allow violence of any form from any sect in Punjab: Punjab CM Amarinder Singh

# 4:35 PM: There were no deaths in Punjab, everything was peaceful here. There was no firing, lathicharge: Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh

#4:18 PM: 17 casualties, post-mortem underway; 90 ppl were admitted last night, no case of bullet injury: CMO, Civil Hospital, Panchkula

#4:08 PM: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh chaired a high-level meeting over law and order situation in the state

#4:00 PM: Haryana: Visuals of Ram Rahim Singh's Dera Sacha Sauda ashram in Hisar

#3:47 PM: Punjab Police and Army conducted flag march in Punjab's Moga

#3:25 PM: We found axes, batons, petrol bombs etc there. All objectionable objects seized and Dera has been completely vacated: Kaithal DC

#2:44 PM: Police is in the process of establishing the identity of the 28 dead persons: Haryana Chief Secy Depinder Singh

#2:38 PM: (State)Govt must resign on moral grounds. If it doesn't,Centre must impose President's Rule here: BS Hooda, Former Haryana CM

#2:38 PM:
(State) Govt must resign on moral grounds. If it don't, Centre must impose President's Rule here: BS Hooda, Former Haryana CM

#2:37 PM: Identity of the deceased people is being established, no local resident has come up to claim the bodies: Haryana Chief Secy Depinder Singh

#2:33 PM: People who are injured are not local Panchkula residents, not even one: Haryana Chief Secretary Depinder Singh

#2:30 PM: 28 deaths in Panchkula-24 men, 3 women and a child. Three deaths have been reported from Sirsa: Haryana Chief Secretary Depinder Singh

#2:30 PM: Military is not going inside Dera, there is no such plan as of now: Rajpal Punia, GOC, 33 Division Hisa

#2:30 PM: The moment Ram Rahim Singh was arrested, his Z-plus security stood automatically withdrawn: Haryana Chief Secretary Depinder Singh

#2:18 PM: Helicopter was arranged by the Haryana Government, they had paid for it: Haryana Chief Secretary Depinder Singh

#2:15 PM: No VIP treatment given to Ram Rahim, he was taken through a helicopter purely on security considerations: Haryana Chief Secretary

#2:05 PM: Two sedition cases have been registered during the entire process, probe underway: Haryana Chief Secretary Depinder Singh briefs the media

#1:55 PM: No one has been summoned: Haryana BJP in-charge Anil Jain on reports of CM ML Khattar being summoned to Delhi.

#1:55 PM:
Ppl who died were Dera supporters. 36 Dera Ashrams sealed & Dera at Sirsa is being vacated: Anil Jain, Haryana BJP Incharge

Also read | Hope amid violence: Sirsa locals prepare for Army stationed to quell Dera unrest

#1:35 PM: Army has not entered Dera HQ; arms found in possession of Dera followers: Haryana DGP


#1:25 PM: DG Haryana assured situation is under control. Situation in Punjab, Rajasthan & Delhi is normal: Home Secy after meeting HM 

#1:25 PM: Imp points on internal security discussed, one being violence post Ram Rahim Singh's conviction: Rajiv Mehrishi. Home Secy after meeting HM

#1:10 PM: Amit Shah's meeting with state leaders ends, CM Khattar not consulted

#1:07 PM: Haryana Govt is inadequate in controlling the situation. It should immediately be replaced with President's rule: Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Congress

#1:03 PM: Congress demands President's rule in Haryana

#1:00 PM: BJP President Amit Shah holds a meeting with Haryana Incharge Anil Jain and Kailash Vijaywargiya in party headquarters in Delhi

#12:55 PM: Army has no order to enter Dera premises in Sirsa: official

The Army has not been given any order so far to enter the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters, Sirsa sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Paramjit Singh Chahal said on Saturday, even as the defiant followers of self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh stayed put at the campus.  

“There is still no order for the Army to enter the campus. They are only ensuring enforcement of curfew in the area,” Chahal said.

The Army along with the police and paramilitary forces has put up barricades at entry points of the Dera Sacha Sauda premises.

Chahal said that a high-level meeting between the Army and the state authorities was underway this afternoon.  An estimated one lakh people, including women and children, were present in the sect headquarters. The Army and district authorities have been appealing through loudspeakers, asking those inside to leave the premises.

#12:49 PM: Update: Army columns have not entered Dera premises in Sirsa. This is an official statement.

#12:43 PM: Sedition charges applied against two Ram Rahim supporters: Reports. 6 Guards and 2 supporters booked for slapping IPS officer during Ram Rahim's arrest on Friday. 

#12:42 PM: What happened to claims of preparedness? It looked like Govt has surrendered: HC 

#12:34 PM: Lucknow ADG Law and Order Anant Kumar

- Security at Borders beefed up due to ongoing Army and Police joint operation in Panchkula

-Since train operations suspended, supporters will try to use road transport to return to their homes.

-All districts of MRT Zone on high alert

-Additional PAC Deployed in concerned districts

-Intelligence Machinery keeping a vigilant eye on all developments

#12:30 PM: The Kurukshetra Police sealed the nine congregation centres of the Dera Sacha Sauda in the district, evicting the followers, and seized over 2,500 lathis and other sharp-edged weapons during a search operation there.

After evicting Dera followers, a large number of security personnel have been deployed outside the Dera Sacha Sauda’s congregation centres to prevent any untoward incident.

“All the nine Naam Charcha Ghars (congregation centres) in the district have been sealed and entry to these centres has been banned,” Kurukshetra SP Abhishek Garg told PTI.

#12:25 PM: HC says Haryana Govt did not take action in time; allowed violence for political gain

#12:23 PM: Punjab and Haryana HC reprimands Haryana govt for Dera violence, says politics over the matter allowed things to get out of hand

#12: 19 PM: Delhi Police conducts flag march to maintain pace and order, section 144 remains in place 

#12:18 PM: Briefed by DGP; situation peaceful, curfew lifted in 3 districts,relaxed in all others. State on alert for 48 hrs-Punjab CM

#12:05 PM: The authorities have so far sealed 36 campuses of dera sacha Sauda after the conviction of sect chief Ram Rahim Singh

#11:55 AM: Defiant followers of self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Saturday stayed put at the sect headquarters in Sirsa, despite appeals by the Army and authorities to vacate the premises.

The Army, which along with police had put up barricades at entry points of the Dera Sacha Sauda premises following yesterday’s violence triggered by the rape conviction of Ram Rahim, is mulling its options, said a senior official, who did not wish to be named.

Fifteen dera followers have been arrested since last night here, police said.

“We will not spare those who have taken the law in their hands. We will take strict action against then,” IG (Hisar) AS Dillo said outside the Dera premisesAn estimated one lakh people, including women and children, are present in the sect headquarters. The Army and district authorities have been making announcements through loudspeakers, asking those inside to leave the premises. (Read full story here)

#11:42 AM: Army making slow and steady inroads into Dera Sacha Sauda HQ spread in over 14 kms in Sirsa


#11:40 AM: Many Dera followers stuck inside Sirsa HQ claim that they came there to only attend a sermon and had not anticipated such turn of events: Newsnation reporter

#11:35 AM: Entry in Dera HQ was banned since yesterday, people were allowed only to leave. Yet scores of people  have chosen to camp inside. Sources on the ground say several Ram Rahim followers are equipped with weapons of various kind: Newsnation reporter

#11:31 AM: IB chief Rajiv Jain, NSA Ajit Doval reach HM Rajnath Singh's residence for meeting; CM Khattar summoned to Delhi

#11:25 AM: Indian Army has entered the premises of Dera Sacha Sauda HQ in Haryana's Sirsa (ANI)

#10:35 AM: District administration and police seal two ashrams of Dera Sacha Sauda in Haryana's Kurukshetra


#9:47 AM:
Some channels & papers reporting on special treatment to #RamRahim. I clarify he is in Sunaria Jail, not in a guesthouse-DG Prisons(Haryana)

#9:47 AM: 
Ram Rahim Singh is being treated as normal prisoner. No attendant provided, no AC in the cell he is lodged in: KP Singh, DG Prisons (Haryana)

#9:15 AM: Home Minister Rajnath Singh discussed Panchkula viloence with PM Modi in the morning, gave him situation report. Singh will hold a meeting shortly: Sources (Read full story here)

#8:52 AM: Western Railways cancels 6 trains & partially cancels 2 trains in wake of law & order situation in Punjab & Haryana

#8:30 PM: Punjab and Harayan Govts to submit situation report in high court today 

#8:00 AM: Schools  to remain sut in Rajasthan's Sriganganagar, birthplace of Ram Rahim Singh

Also read | PM ‘deeply depressed’; Congress calls for CM's resignation – who said what

On Friday night, Army carried out a flag march in the area to maintain law and order. The normal life has come to a standstill due to curfew-like restrictions imposed by the authorities to prevent any untoward incident.

Two companies of Army and 10 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed. Police personnel have asked locals to stay indoors.

In Panchkula on Friday, CBI judge Jagdeep Singh held Ram Rahim, the 50-year-old flamboyant chief of the dera, guilty of rape in a case that was registered on the basis of an anonymous written complaint in 2002 that he had sexually exploited two female followers.

On the basis of the report, a case was registered against him in December 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.The quantum of sentence against Ram Rahim, who enjoys ‘Z’ category security, will be pronounced on August 28.

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First Published : 26 Aug 2017, 08:44:48 AM

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