Amid ‘high alert’ and prohibitory orders clamped in Haryana, more than one lakh followers of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim are estimated to have reached Panchkula to show their solidarity with the sect chief, who has been asked to appear in person in the special CBI court on Friday.
Other than the well-designated spot for assembling at naam charcha ghar Sector 23 in Panchkula where arrangements of tents and food is made, the dera followers are also gathering at various locations in the district.
A special CBI court in Panchkula will pronounce its verdict in a rape case against the head of Sirsa-headquartered sect and he has been asked to appear in person before the court on August 25.
lakhs of followers have already reached Panchkula while many more are expected to gather at the district before Friday.
In view of intelligence reports that Dera followers could stock lathis and other weapons at the sect's different centres, the Haryana Police is keeping an eye on the followers by using drones in Panchkula.
The borders of the Panchkula district with State highways have been barricaded by the police.
While paramilitary forces and State police have been deployed in the district, the police are wary of a repeat of the 2014 situation when police had to resort to force to control Rohtak’s Baba Rampal followers, who had taken up arms to evade Rampal’s arrest.
Ram Niwas, additional Chief Secretary, Home, Haryana, said that Section 144 has been imposed across the State and carrying any kind of stick or weapon has been prohibited at naam charcha ghar of Dera followers.
Security has been beefed up outside the Panchkula CBI court, where the Dera chief has been ordered to appear in person on August 25, he said.
When asked about dera followers gathering at Panchkula, he said that we have deputed senior officials to ensure crowd management and keep an eye on anti-social elements in the gatherings. He added that drones are being used to keep an eye on the gatherings of the dera followers.
Meanwhile, the Haryana Government has notified that August 24 and 25 would be observed as gazetted holidays in the Government offices, boards, corporations, educational institutions and banks in Sectors 2, 4, 5 and 6, Panchkula, only, except for offices of essential services.
An official spokesman said that holiday had been declared under the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 in view of the law and order situation there.
Earlier, a two-day ban — on 24 and 25 August — was imposed on vehicular movement on roads near Haryana's Panchkula district court complex, where the verdict in Ram Rahim case would be pronounced.
leave of medical and para-medical staff cancelled
The Haryana Health Department has cancelled leave of all medical and para-medical staff upto August 30 in the State. In a letter issued to all civil surgeons, Director General, Health Services has directed them not to sanction any kind of leave to their subordinates including medical officers and para-medical staff upto August 30. The leave, if officials already availing, should be cancelled. Apart from this, the medical staff at Panchkula health centres have been asked to remain stationed at the district for three days in view of “high alert”.
leave of IAS and HCS cancelled
The Haryana Government has directed that no Deputy Commissioners, Sub Divisional Officers (Civil) and other HCS officers would avail leave till further orders. The leave, if already sanctioned, stands cancelled. A spokesman of Personnel Department said that all the officials of District Administration need to be in full strength. Therefore, no Deputy Commissioners, Sub Divisional Officers (Civil) and other HCS officers would avail leave till further orders. The leave, if already sanctioned, stands cancelled, he added.
Educational institutions closed in Haryana
To maintain law and order situation, Haryana Government has decided that Government, private, Government aided and B Ed colleges, district library and sub divisional libraries in district Panchkula would remain closed from August 23 to 25.
Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said that Haryana Government has announced three-day holiday in all schools, colleges and other educational institutions in district Panchkula from August 23 to 25 in view of the large number of followers of Dera Sacha Sauda gathering in the district.
Apart from this, Kurukshetra University, Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak, Chaudhary Devi lal University at Sirsa, Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya, Khanpur Kalan (Sonipat), Indira Gandhi University, Meerpur (Rewari), Chaudhary Ranbir Singh University, Jind and Chaudhary Bansi lal University at Bhiwani, all Government, private, Government aided and B Ed colleges in the State, all NCC units, and all district libraries, sub divisional libraries and central library, Ambala Cantt would remain closed on August 25.
DC Sirsa issue directions
Sirsa Deputy Commissioner Prabhjot Singh urged the owners of shops, houses, educational institutions, petrol pumps, banks and other commercial establishments in the district to ensure that the CCTV cameras installed in their premises are in working order.
While addressing a meeting of municipal councilors at Panchayat Bhawan in Sirsa, he said that to maintain law and order situation in the town, the councillors should ensure the safety and security of religious institutions and Government and other property in their respective wards. He said that if any mischievous or suspicious element is found roaming in their wards, they should immediately inform to the nearest police station.
Bus service to be suspended
The Haryana Government has announced to suspend bus service on August 25 while official orders in the regard was yet to be issued till late Wednesday evening. Before August 25, the Transport Department has directed Haryana Roadways to terminate all its Chandigarh and Panchkula bound buses at the Ambala bus stand. The transport commissioner issued the orders to the general managers of all the districts.