The two States of Haryana and Punjab, along with their joint Capital Chandigarh, were virtually closed on Thursday and would remain so on Friday, perhaps for the first time in decades, fearing trouble from the supporters of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, as over a lakh devotees had already converged on Panchkula where the special CBI court would announce its verdict in the rape case against the rockstar godman.
Punjab and Haryana High Court pulled up the Haryana Government for not timely applying the right clauses of Section 144. “Why was assembly not prohibited,” asked the court and added that “these were basic preventive measures that could have been taken to avoid violence and an uncontrollable situation” in case the verdict goes against the Dera chief on Friday.
The Punjab Government declared a public holiday in all its offices here on Friday, in view of the CBI court judgment. “All Government offices located in Chandigarh will be closed on the day of the judgment,” a Government spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, in a major relief to the authorities, in a tweet, Ram Rahim Singh said that he would appear in person before the special CBI court, while appealing to his followers to maintain peace. “I have always respected the law. Even though I am having a backache, still abiding by law, I will go to court (tomorrow). I have full faith in God. Everyone should maintain peace,” the sect chief tweeted.
However, despite the appeal by the Dera chief for peace, authorities in the two States fear that an adverse court judgment against the Dera chief in a rape case could lead to serious problems as lakhs of supporters of the Dera were agitated and restless.
Over 15,000 paramilitary troops, have been deployed in sensitive areas across Punjab and Haryana and the Army is on standby even as curfew has been imposed in the areas in and around Sirsa, the headquarters of Dera Sacha Sauda in Haryana.
To prevent rumour-mongering, mobile internet services have also been suspended for 72 hours in both the States and their joint capital Chandigarh, while authorities are keeping a close watch on social media posts also, officials said.
The Railways said it has cancelled 22 trains bound for Haryana. A Northern Railway official said, “At least 22 trains heading to Haryana on Friday have been cancelled in view of the law and order situation in the state.” Bus services to and from Delhi have also been cancelled.
The Dera has a huge following in the Malwa belt of Punjab as well as Haryana and both the States are on a high alert.
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar talked to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on the situation in the State. The Home Minister assured all support to the State. Paramilitary forces have been deployed in all sensitive areas, particularly those which are believed to be the stronghold of the Dera chief, to prevent any untoward incident ahead of the judgment.
The sexual exploitation case was registered against the Dera chief in 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the alleged sexual exploitation of two female followers by Ram Rahim Singh. The Dera chief, however, has denied these charges.
In Panchkula near Chandigarh, thousands of Dera supporters, including women and elderly, arrived and were camping in parks and open spaces. More ‘Premis’, as the Dera followers are known, were pouring in from several parts of Haryana and Punjab.
Government officials said that the Centre has rushed 150 companies of paramilitary forces to Punjab and Haryana to assist the police forces in maintaining law and order.
Flag marches were carried out by security forces in Panchkula, Sirsa, Hissar and other places while many hospitals were also put on alert as a precautionary measure, the official said. The police were keeping a close watch on social media, particularly WhatsApp groups, Facebook and Twitter, and have asked people not to spread rumours, he said.
A joint control room of Haryana and Punjab would be set up in Sector-9, Chandigarh where a police officer each from both the States would be deployed for better coordination, Ram Niwas, Additional Chief Secretary, Home, Haryana said. He said that as per earlier orders, Section 144 was imposed in all districts.
The official said that ten senior IPS officers had been deployed and two Director General-level officers of the police department were also focusing to ensure peace and maintaining law and order in the State.
Meanwhile, the Haryana Government declared the Chaudhary Tau Devi lal stadium complex, Sector-3, Panchkula and Dalbir Singh Indoor stadium, Sirsa as special jails. Chandigarh home department had declared the cricket stadium in Sector 16, as a temporary jail on August 25, the day of the verdict.