Hundreds of troops Saturday patrolled a
northern Indian city hit by deadly clashes that
killed at least 30 people after thousands
protested a court’s decision to convict a
controversial spiritual leader of rape.
Ram Rahim Singh
The army was deployed in Haryana state’s
Panchkula city after tens of thousands of
followers of guru Ram Rahim Singh went on an
angry rampage, attacking television vans and
setting fire to dozens of private vehicles.
Security forces were put on high alert to ensure
there was no repeat of the violence that
erupted Friday afternoon, minutes after a
special court pronounced the self-styled guru
guilty of raping two of his followers.
Mobile phone services were disrupted in some
parts of Haryana and neighbouring Punjab
state, where authorities had earlier imposed a
curfew following the clashes.
Although the curfew was lifted in Panchkula
Saturday, restrictions on public assembly
remained in place.
Haryana police chief B.S. Sandhu said on
Saturday at least 30 people had died with the
toll likely to rise as some of the wounded were
being treated for serious head injuries.
“The toll within the state is at least 30 dead
and around 200 injured including about 50
police and security personnel,” said Sandhu.
“Some of the injured didn’t come to the
hospitals fearing that they could face police
action or arrests for involvement in the
violence,” he said.
Official sources disclosed earlier that at least
32 people had died, with most of the fatalities
caused by gun shots.
Official sources disclosed earlier that at least
32 people had died, with most of the fatalities
caused by gun shots.
The 50-year-old Singh is known as the “guru in
bling” for his penchant for bejewelled costumes
and claims to have more than 50 million loyal
followers worldwide.
The rape case was brought against him after
an anonymous letter was sent to then prime
minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2002 accusing
him of repeatedly raping the sender and several
other women in the sect.
A judge asked the Central Bureau of
Investigations to look into the accusations, but
it took years to trace the alleged victims and it
was not until 2007 that two women came
forward and filed charges.
– ‘Unjust’ verdict –
Some 200,000 members of Singh’s sect had
gathered in Panchkula in a show of support a
day before the verdict, which enraged his
followers, with many saying they were in a
state of shock.
“I have been with dear Ram Rahim Singh for
around 14 years. I can bet that all the
allegations against our guru are false,” said
Rajkumar, a shopkeeper from Haryana who
was undergoing treatment at the hospital.
“He can’t do any wrong… He works to rid the
world of all its troubles,” he said, his head
heavily bandaged.
Ajay Garg, a doctor in Panchkula, blamed the
police for allowing the situation to spiral out of
control.
“Our family was very scared. We went to the
third floor of our house. They (mobs) were out
of control and even damaged my car which
was parked outside,” he told AFP.
Singh’s Dera Sacha Sauda sect, whose
headquarters are located in nearby Sirsa town,
said it would appeal the verdict.
“This is unjust. We will appeal against the
judgement,” it said in a statement.
The sprawling Sirsa premises, spread across
nearly 1,000 acres (404 hectares), include
schools, sports facilities, a hospital and a
cinema hall — thanks to Singh’s love for the
silver screen.
In 2015 Singh started a film franchise
portraying him as MSG or the ‘Messenger of
God’, performing miracles, preaching to
thousands and beating up gangsters while
singing and dancing.
His last flick ‘MSG – The Warrior Lion Heart’
was released last year, with the guru playing a
secret agent fighting aliens and UFOs.
Singh’s sentencing will be announced on
Monday.

Krishna were are you