Ram Rahim Guilty Of Rape, Sentence on Monday, Followers Went on Rampage

CHANDIGARH:
Self-declared spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been found guilty of raping two women followers in 2002. He has been arrested and will be sentenced on Monday. Enraged by the rape conviction of self-styled godman Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh today, thousands of his followers went on the rampage, hurling stones and vandalising media vehicles. At least 12 people were killed and scores injured.
Police fired in the air and also lobbed tear gas and let loose water cannons on the protesters to quell the violence, which appeared to be spreading in Haryana, Punjab and even Rajasthan.
Ram Rahim arrived in a 200-car cavalcade this afternoon in the town of Panchkula where a court had ordered him present for its ruling. Major towns in Punjab and Haryana are in lockdown – Panchkula, Chandigarh which is just 11 kms away, and Sirsa, where his sect, the Dera Sacha Sauda, is headquartered at a massive campus. Followers wept, some fainted, as they waited for the verdict, which has created a huge security nightmare in multiple towns including Panchkula. Ram Rahim had said he is not guilty of the charges against him.
As spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh headed towards the town of Panchkula in a convoy of 200 cars, drones and helicopters took charge of the skies to survey the huge groups of his devotees that have gathered in the town.
In a second round of indictment of the police and administration, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the use of force, if needed, and said any incidents of arson must be filmed to identify the culprits. They also asked for video footage of the court to review if it was appropriately protected. Yesterday, the judges said the government was already guilty of dereliction of duty by allowing Panchkula to turn into an outpost of Ram Rahim’s sect, the Dera Sacha Sauda.
Nearly 1,50,000 followers of Ram Rahim have settled into Panchkula where the verdict was delivered at a local court. They easily bypassed barricades meant to prevent an influx into Panchkula, and said they must respectfully ignore Ram Rahim’s appeal, issued at midnight, asking them to disperse.
Some say they are present to show solidarity with their chief, who has denied raping two women followers in 2002. Others say that they cannot leave without a glimpse of the man who they describe as a living God.
15,000 paramilitary troops are on the streets along with the police to guard against an eruption of violence. Trains and buses have been cancelled, schools and colleges and government offices are closed, mobile internet services have been cut off, and the army is ready to step in if needed.