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Ram Rahim conviction: 30 killed, over 250 injured in violence by Dera supporters; PM Modi condemns violence Live

At Least 30 People Killed And Over 250 Were Injured In Violent Clashes Between Dera Supporters And Security Forces. Chief Ministers Of Punjab And Haryana Have Appealed People To Maintain Peace And Law&order In The States.

News Nation Bureau | Edited By : Arshi Aggarwal | Updated on: 26 Aug 2017, 05:26:46 PM
Ram Rahim conviction: Violence by Dera supporters spread in 5 states, 17 dead, over 200 injured

New Delhi:

Massive violence erupted Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, and Chandigarh after a CBI Court in Panchkula convicted Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a 15-year-old rape case on Friday. Soon after the news of Dera chief's conviction came out of Court's premises, his supporters started pelting stones on police and security forces.

Angry supporters attacked media vehicles and set several government offices including railway stations on fire. The police fired tear gas shells and baton charged to disperse the mob in Panchkula.

At least 30 people killed and over 250 were injured in violent clashes. Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana have appealed people to maintain peace and law&order in the states.

Also read | Dera chief verdict: Shutters down near sect headquarters in Sirsa

Here are the updates:

#9:42 PM: No major incident took place in Delhi today, 5 arrested for involvement in small incidents. Will keep close watch tomorrow also: Delhi Police.

#9:08 PM: Haryana Government had made complete arrangements; the mob was really huge: Manohar Lal Khattar, Haryana CM

#8:58 PM: Urged officials to work round the clock to restore normalcy and provide all possible assistance that is required, tweets PM Modi.

#8:58 PM: Taking preventive measures, Chandigarh Police detains 81 people confirms Chandigarh DGP Tejinder Singh Luthra.

#8:58 PM: The law & order situation is being closely monitored. I reviewed the situation with NSA & Home Secretary, tweets PM Modi

#8:57 PM: 6 private commandos of Ram Rahim Singh arrested by Chandigarh Police, weapons and petrol cans seized from them.

#8:50 PM: Instances of violence today are deeply distressing. Strongly condemn violence & urge everyone to maintain peace, tweets PM Modi

#8:41 PM:  30 dead, 250 injured in violence in Haryana.

#8:32 PM: Police say prohibitory orders implemented in 11 Delhi districts, to be in force till Sept 8.

#8:32 PM: Punjab: Curfew has been imposed in Patiala.

#8:32 PM: Violence & brutality have no place in our society. Condemn rampage & lawlessness in Haryana, appeal to restore peace & tranquility: Rahul Gandhi

#8:29 PM: Ghaziabad District Magistrate directs all schools in the region to remain closed tomorrow.

#8:17 PM: Punjab: Passengers stranded at Bathinda railway station due to curfew imposed

#8:11 PM: If even bigger incidents take place, court will also be responsible not just Dera people: Sakshi Maharaj, BJP MP

#8:08 PM: One person alleging sexual exploitation but crores stand with him today, why those crores of people are not being heard?: Sakshi Maharaj,BJP MP

#7:56 PM: Curfew imposed in Punjab's Sangrur and Moga districts.

7:45 PM: President Ram Nath Kovind appeals to all citizens to maintain peace.

#7:40 PM: High-level meeting called at HM's residence tomorrow. Home Secy & others senior officials will also be present: MHA Sources

#7:29 PM: Sonia Gandhi spoke to Punjab CM Amarinder Singh over violence post-Ram Rahim Singh's conviction.

#7:25 PM: Almost 250 trains canceled. All trains going towards Rohtak canceled for tomorrow: Neeraj Sharma, CPRO, Northern Railway

#7:22 PM: Violence, damage to public property after court verdict is condemnable; appeal citizens to maintain peace, tweets Prez Kovind

#7:20 PM: Rajasthan: Dera supporters set power sub-station office on fire in Sriganganagar, vehicle at sub-station premises also torched.

#7:15 PM: Death toll in Dera supporters violence reaches to 28, more than 250 injured.

#7:00 PM: Delhi Metro put on high alert, vigilance increased. 

#6:55 PM: Ram Rahim reaches police training centre in Sonaria near Rohtak. 

#6:50 PM: Section 144 imposed in Noida. 

#6:48 PM: State govt will compensate for the losses of Media personnel & the properties of others: Ram Niwas, Addl. Chief Secy to Haryana Government

#6:47 PM: Punjab Govt has asked Central Govt for more security forces in view of violence at different places

#6:45 PM: There are no gatherings anywhere at present. Situation is under control after few incidents: Madhur Verma, Delhi Police PRO

#6:43: PM: Section 144 has also been imposed in Uttar Pradesh's Shamli.

#6:40 PM: Section 144 imposed in Uttar Pradesh's Muzaffarnagar and Baghpat, in view of violent protests in Punjab and Haryana.

# 6:37 PM: Action will be taken against those taking law in their hands, appeal everyone to remain cautious: Haryana CM ML Khattar

#6:35 PM: 1000 Dera Sacha Sauda have been detained, says Haryana's ADGP (Law & Order) Muhammad Akil

#6:30 PM: Visuals from Haryana's Sirsa, violence continues after Ram Rahim Singh's conviction.

#6:25 PM: Curfew imposed in Panchkula following Dera supporters violence.

#6:20 PM: Death toll in Panchkula reaches to 17, over 200 injured.

#6:18 PM: Police carried out Flag March in Haryana's Sirsa after Ram Rahim Singh's conviction.

#6:15 PM: Senior Government officials in Panchkula should be given security by paramilitary forces says Punjab & Haryana High Court

# 6:10 PM: Punjab and Haryana High Court says properties of Ram Rahim Singh should be attached to pay for the losses due to violence.

# 6:05 PM: Security at Delhi BJP HQ increased post violence at various places after 's conviction. 

#5:57 PM: Death toll reaches to 12 in violent clashes.

# 5:55 PM: Security at Delhi BJP HQ increased post violence at various places after #RamRahimSingh's conviction.

# 5:50 PM: HM Rajnath Singh spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Briefed him about the entire situation.

#5:45 PM: Violence reported in Delhi, two buses set ablaze on Mandoli flyover in Delhi's Nand Nagri.

# 5:35 PM: Court has ordered to attachment of Dera Sacha Dauda's properties.

# 5:30 PM: Delhi CM appeal people to maintain peace, He tweeted, "I urge everyone to stay calm and maintain peace."

# 5:25 PM: Bus set ablaze near Babu Jagjivan Ram Memorial Hospital in Delhi.

# 5:20 PM: Two empty rakes of Rewa Express at Anand Vihar Terminal railway station set on fire: Northern Railway Spox Neeraj Sharma.

#5:15 PM: I appeal to all Punjabis to maintain peace and harmony in the state. We won't allow anyone to disturb the peace & tranquility of our state: Punjab CM

# 5:10 PM: Briefed HM Rajnath Singh ji. Situation is being monitored extensively, strict action will be taken against those who try to disrupt peace: Haryana CM

# 5:05 PM: Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar appeals to maintain peace.

# 5:00 PM: At least 70 people injured in violent protests in Panchkula, admitted in Sector 6 General Hospital

# 4:55 PM: Just briefed Rajnath Singh Ji about the situation in Punjab. Keeping a close watch. Would not allow anyone to disturb peace in Punjab: Punjab CM

# 4:50 PM:  6 Army columns deployed in Panchkula post conviction of Dera Chief Ram Rahim Singh

# 4:48 PM: Gurmit Ram Rahim is being shifted to Rohtak jail. Central Industrial Security Force personnel deployed within one km radius of Rohtak's Sunariya Jail.

# 4:45 PM: Haryana Government calls for an emergency Cabinet meeting.

# 4:43 PM: At least five people died post-Ram Rahim conviction clashes. More than 100 injured.

# 4:32 PM: Administrative machinery geared up in Western Uttar Pradesh- Anand Kumar, ADG Law and Order

# 4:28 PM: Alert sounded in adjoining districts to ensure no spillover of trouble in UP through strict check on borders - ADG Law & Order

# 4:27 PM: Heavy force deployment in Sirsa as crowds turn violent, Rapid Action Force also reaches Haryana

# 4:24 PM: Security alert on Delhi borders after Ram Rahim is found guilty of rape.

# 4:20 PM: A camera person injured during violent protests in Sirsa, Haryana.

# 4:13 PM: 10 injured in violent protests, shifted to a hospital in Sector 6 Panchkula

# 4:03 PM: Three OB Vans set alight by protesters in Panchkula, Haryana

# 3:57 PM: Malout Railway Station & petrol pump set on fire by protesters in Punjab post-Ram Rahim verdict, similar incidents also reported in Bathinda.

# 3:46 PM: Tear Gas & lathicharge in Sector 5 Panchkula as crowds turn violent, Live bullets fired in the air to disperse crowds.

# 3:44 PM: I appeal to all Punjabis to maintain peace & harmony in state. Won't allow anyone to disturb peace & tranquility: Punjab CM

# 3:43 PM: Police fire tear gas shells on Dera protesters in Panchkula

# 3:38 PM: Two railway stations reportedly set ablaze by Dera supporters. Media vans attacked in Panchkula.

# 3:35 PM: Ram Rahim to be airlifted as Dera supporters started violent demonstrations.  

# 3:30 PM: Heavy security near Panchkula's special CBI Court.

#3:12 PM: Ram Rahim Singh has been taken into custody by Haryana Police

#3:04 PM: Newsnation Channel pleads all followers of Dera Sacha Sauda to maintain peace and order in light of sentence 

#3:02 PM: Court to pronounce sentence on August 28, it could vary between seven years and life

#2:59 PM: CBI court finds Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh guilty in 15-year-old molestation case

#2:56 PM: Only seven people present inside the court during delivery of verdict

#2:54 PM: Ram Rahim supporters creating ruckus outside court

#2:47 PM: Electricity cut in Panchkula's residential areas

#2:46 PM: Security forces armed with tear gas  and bullet proof armours deployed outside court in heavy numbers

#2:46 PM: Ram Rahim present along with 10 lawyers

#2:45 PM: Hearing begins in the molestation case against Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Judge Jagdeep giving verdict

#2:25 PM: Whatever is verdict, will implement it. Ready to deal with any circumstances,security arrangements are in place: Haryana CM

#2:23 PM: Appeal people, especially Dera followers to remain calm: Haryana CM ML Khattar

#2:07 PM: Dera chief reaches Panchkula court along with massive cavalcade, decision shortly

#1:30 PM: Rajasthan: Internet services suspended for 48 hours & Section 144 imposed in Sri Ganganagar and Hanumangarh in the light of Ram Rahim Verdict

#1:30 PM: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh reaches Panchkula, judgement at 2:45 PM

#12:45 PM: Punjab & Haryana HC to Haryana govt - Use force if needed, file FIR against leaders if they make provocative statements 

#11:40 AM: Trains affected due to Law & Order situation in Haryana & Punjab

Mail/Express Trains

Cancelled=91; Diverted=01; Short Terminated= 17; Short Originated=03 

Passenger Trains

Cancelled=120; Diverted=nil; Short Terminated=02; Short Originated=02

# 11:25 AM:

#10:57 AM: There's peace in the region & everything is in place. Have faith in us, proceedings will take place peacefully: DGP Haryana

#10:11 AM: Dera followers block Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's convoy en route Panchkula

#9:10 AM: Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim leaves for Panchkula in a massive convoy 

#7:30 AM: 74 trains have been cancelled for today in the view of law and order situation in Haryana ahead of Ram Rahim Verdict


Army on stand by

Army columns have been put on stand-by in Panchkula since Thursday midnight as scores of Dera followers refused to vacate parks and roads. 

“At the sect headquarters at Sirsa, police and paramilitary forces took out a flag march past midnight to enforce the curfew clamped at 10 pm for an indefinite period,” Sirsa SP Ashwin Shenvi said.

The Dera followers made it to Panchkula over the past three days despite prohibitory orders under CrPC Section 144 being in force.

However, speaking to reporters in Panchkula late on Thursday night, a senior police official said that restrictions regarding carrying of weapons was earlier imposed under Section 144, which was later on amended and a provision invoked banning assembly of five or more persons.

Appeal to go home

Gurmeet Ram Rahim on Thursday night made an appeal to his followers, who have flocked in Panchkula, to go back to their homes, a development which may come as a big relief to security personnel who have been asking them to move out of the town.

The sect head released a video and asked his followers to abide by law.“I had earlier appealed to maintain peace and calm and asked (followers) not to go to Panchkula. All those (followers) who are in Panchkula should return to their home.

“I have to go to the court for hearing the verdict and I will go to Panchkula. We should all abide by law and maintain peace and calm,” Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh said in his video appeal.

The Dera chief has said that he would be reaching the court in Panchkula on Friday for the verdict. He is expected to arrive in a chopper.

Other details

Tensions simmered in Punjab, Haryana and their shared capital Chandigarh in anticipation of the results as scores of Dera followers refused to budge from Panchkula despite stern orders from Punjab and Haryana High Court and a curfew in place. 

An estimated 1.5 lakh Dera followers including men, women and children have gathered in the city and have refused to leave without a ‘darshan’ or their ‘Pitaji’, despite stern warnings from Chandigarh Police and a request from Dera chief. 

The mobile data and internet services have been suspended in the two states and Union Territory, leading to complaints from several followers that they cannot watch Ram Rahim’s video message, wherein he requests people to go home and maintain peace and order.

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First Published : 25 Aug 2017, 06:43:52 AM

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