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This is an archive article published on August 28, 2017

Quest of the Kin of Deceased: People streaming in to trace family members under arrest

Police are arresting injured Dera followers after their discharge from hospital on charges of rioting, and said they will produce them in court.

Dera followers misled, Dera followers, Dera supporters violence, Ram Rahim Singh satsang hoax, Panchkula, Panchkula protesters arrested, indian express news Family members of a Dera follower at General Hospital in Panchkula on Sunday. (Express Photo by Sahil Walia)

“MY FATHER told me that he is going for Satsang of Babaji at Panchkula,” said Gutivan Ram, whose father Govind Ram is now in police custody for rioting at Panchkula. After the August 25 violence at Panchkula by Dera Sacha Sauda followers, now a rush of people from Haryana and Punjab are arriving in Panchkula to trace their relatives and family members who have been arrested by the police.

They are going to different police stations to find their relatives. They are saying that their family members left for Panchkula on receiving a communique from some Dera leaders that there was a Satsang here. Many thought there was a video shooting of their ‘Babaji’, Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

On Sunday afternoon, Gutivan came to Sector 5 Police Station in Panchkula along with his mother from Lehragaga at the far end of Punjab to see his father who was in the custody at Sector 5 Police Station, Panchkula. “I have come to know that my father has been kept here in Sector 5 Police Station, but we have not been able to see him as the policemen are not briefing us anything about him,” he said.

Police are arresting injured Dera followers after their discharge from hospital on charges of rioting, and said they will produce them in court. “While my father left for Panchkula on August 22, he told us that there is a Satsang of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Babaji and he has received a communique from the Dera that he has to reach there, but we did not knew that the situation will be something else,” added Gutivan.

Another person, Rahul, a resident of Panchkula in Sector 19, said, “I have come here to see my friend’s son who has been reportedly shot injured and is now in police custody. Rohit came from Ganganagar (Rajasthan) to Panchkula on August 23. He has been shot and is injured now but since he is in police custody, I am unable to meet him. Rohit’s father is my friend and had asked me to see and check whereabouts of his son. I got to know that he had told his father he would participate in some video film of Ram Rahim.”

Similarly, another man from Rohtak was waiting with advocates to track his son Bhuvan. “My son Bhuvan came here on August 23. I have earlier seen the hospital and now I am here at the police station with my advocates to see what procedures can be followed to get him free from here.”

He said his son said nothing when he left for Panchkula. “After watching the news reports, I came here in my car to find my son,” he said. Similar scenes were witnessed outside Sector 14 and Sector 20 police stations.

Jagpreet Singh Sandhu is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. He is a veteran reporter with over a decade of experience, specializing in legal, crime, and environmental reporting across the tri-city area (Chandigarh, Mohali, and Panchkula). Professional Background Core Beat: He primarily covers the Punjab and Haryana High Court, District Courts, CBI Courts, and Consumer Commissions. His legal reporting is known for breaking down complex judgments and tracking long-standing criminal cases. Environmental Reporting: Jagpreet has become a key voice in reporting on the deteriorating air quality and weather patterns in the Punjab-Haryana region. Crime & Technology: He frequently reports on cybercrime, digital arrest scams, and the intersection of technology and law enforcement, such as the development of citizen-centric policing apps. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) His late 2025 coverage has focused on significant judicial verdicts, major financial scams, and public health concerns: 1. Legal & CBI Court Verdicts "12 years on, CBI court acquits Haryana judge, parents in wife’s death case" (Dec 17, 2025): Detailed coverage of the acquittal of a judicial officer in a high-profile dowry death case from 2013. "‘Wicked & evil mind’: Court gives man 30-year term for kidnapping, sexually assaulting 8-year-old" (Dec 16, 2025): A report on a stern judgment from a Chandigarh district court in a POCSO case. "Man acquitted in rape case after victim found ‘very happy’ in wedding reception" (Dec 9, 2025): Covering a unique legal observation regarding consensual relationships and age verification. 2. Investigative & Scams "CBI registers FIR in Rs 1.14-cr Patient Welfare Grant scam at PGIMER" (Dec 19, 2025): An exposé on how funds meant for poor patients were siphoned off through forged documents and a photocopy shop inside the PGIMER campus. "Month-long torture, Rs 85 lakh transfers: How ‘Innocence Certificate’ led to a ‘digital arrest’ of an elderly couple" (Dec 12, 2025): Detailing a sophisticated cyber fraud targeting senior citizens in Chandigarh. 3. Environment & Public Safety "Panchkula air turns ‘very poor’, fourth worst in country" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on the sudden spike in pollution levels in Panchkula compared to neighbouring cities. "Soon, you can snap that overspeeding car, and report to Chandigarh Police" (Dec 16, 2025): Breaking news on a new mobile application being developed to allow citizens to report traffic violations via geo-tagged photos. 4. Gangster Culture & Crime "City Beautiful in the crosshairs of gangsters" (Dec 14, 2025): A feature analysis of how Chandigarh has increasingly become a staging ground for extortion and rivalries between gangster modules. "Shooters wanted for Parry murder held by Delhi Police Special Cell" (Dec 18, 2025): Following the developments in a high-profile murder case in Chandigarh’s Sector 26. Signature Style Jagpreet is recognized for his tenacious follow-up on cold cases and his ability to report on courtroom drama with a focus on victim rights. His work often highlights administrative lapses, whether in the handling of patient welfare funds or the enforcement of environmental standards. ... Read More

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