Ram Rahim Singh convicted: Facing heat, Haryana govt suspends Panchkula DCP as death toll rises to 36

Earlier in the day, the state government had sealed over 30 congregation centres of the Dera Sacha Sauda across the state. Four rifles, including an AK-47, pistols and petrol bombs were among the weapons seized from the supporters of the sect.

Meanwhile, the Haryana government today sacked state’s deputy advocate general for “accompanying” Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh after his conviction. The state government terminated the services of DAG Gurdas Salwara on the recommendations of Haryana’s Advocate General Baldev Raj Mahajan. The action from the AG office came in the wake of a video clip purportedly showing the DAG in lawyer’s robes carrying a suitcase of the Dera head after his conviction by a CBI court in Panchkula yesterday.

Mob of Dera followers pelting stones on securities forces on highway between Panchkula-Zirakpur in after the verdict on Dera chief on Friday, August 25 2017. (Express photo by Jaipal Singh)

While 28 people were killed in Panchkula, the epicentre of the violence, two deaths had been reported in Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa. “Two more deaths have occurred today. The death toll has increased to four,” a hospital control room official in Sirsa was quoted as saying by PTI. The quantum of his sentence has been scheduled to be pronounced on Monday.

Divulging details on the casualties, Baldev Raj Mahajan, Haryana’s Advocate General, told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that there have been “thirty-two casualties in the state of Haryana out of which 28 are in Panchkula”. He added that out of 28 dead bodies (Panchkula), one has been identified. “The remaining so far remained unidentified. Arrests of as many as 524 persons have been made in Panchkula, 24 vehicles have been seized, five pistols with 79 rounds; besides, 2 rifles with 52 rounds were recovered. Moreover, iron rods, ‘dandas’, hockey sticks and ten petrol bombs were also recovered,” he said.

READ: Panchkula clashes: In morgue, 17 bodies lie unclaimed, their phones ringing through night

“Eight FIRs have been registered in Panchkula. The details of FIRs registered at other places would be furnished,” Mahajan told the court during a special hearing.

Meanwhile, the Army stated that it has no immediate plan of entering Dera Sacha Sauda sect headquarters in Sirsa, adding that it was instead focusing on maintaining law and order. “There is no plan so far to enter the Dera headquarters here. We are focusing on maintenance of law and order presently,” General Officer Commanding (GOC), 33 Armoured Division, Maj Gen Rajpal Punia told reporters in Sirsa. The Army also appealed the Dera followers to leave the complex.

ALSO READ: High Court castigates Haryana Govt, says CM Manohar Lal Khattar is protecting Dera Sacha Sauda

On the other hand, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a high-level meeting in Delhi to take stoke of the security situation in the country, particularly Haryana, and was informed that the situation in the state was under control, officials said.

Police personal looking at remaining of the burning vehicles after violence by the huge mass of Dera Sacha Sauda supporters gathered at in Panchkula after CBI court pronounced Gurmeet Ran Rahem Singh as Convicted in a Rape case,on Thursday, August 25 2017. Express photo by Jasbir Malhi

Ram Rahim’s ‘Z-plus’ security cover was withdrawn after he was convicted of raping two women between 1999 and 2001, said Haryana Chief Secretary D S Dhesi. “The moment he was arrested yesterday, his ‘Z plus’ security cover stood automatically withdrawn,” Dhesi told mediapersons in Chandigarh. “He is being treated as an ordinary prisoner. It was reported that he was being an air conditioner, there is nothing like that. As far as food is concerned, he is served the same food which other prisoners have,” he added. Dhesi also said two cases of sedition have also been registered against the Dera chief’s followers.

HC castigates BJP-ruled Haryana govt over deadly violence

Earlier in the day, the Punjab and Haryana High Court rapped the Manohar Lal Khattar-led government over the deadly violence, saying it had “surrendered” before the followers of Ram Rahim for “political considerations”. The court slammed state Advocate General Baldev Raj Mahajan and held Chief Minister ML Khattar responsible for protecting the Dera Sacha Sauda. “You [state government] have been misleading [us]. There has been a sea difference between administrative and political decisions. Administrative decisions were paralysed because of political decisions. You have placed a DCP under suspension, but was he the only person responsible for all this? Are you trying to tell us that?,” the HC asked AG Mahajan.

“CM is the Home Minister. Why have you allowed people to assemble for seven days. CM is protecting them,” the HC had observed.

The court also directed the state government to make necessary arrangements for the special CBI judge to be flown to the Rohtak district jail for hearing on the quantum of sentence against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief on Monday.

With PTI inputs