This Article is From Aug 25, 2017

'Use Force If Required': High Court To Haryana Ahead Of Verdict In Ram Rahim Rape Case

The Army is on standby and drones, helicopters are keeping a close eye in and around Panchkula where the CBI court will announce its verdict in the rape case

'Use Force If Required': High Court To Haryana Ahead Of Verdict In Ram Rahim Rape Case

50 paramilitary companies are ready ahead of the verdict in Ram Rahim's rape case.

New Delhi: Thousands of security personnel are stationed in Haryana's Panchkula as nearly one lakh followers of spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh have arrived here from various parts of Haryana and Punjab ahead of a CBI court verdict in a rape case against the Dera Sacha Sauda chief.

Last night, the Army was called in to deal with any situation. Around 53 companies of the paramilitary forces and 50,000 personnel of the Haryana Police have also been deployed. Section 144 has been imposed across Chandigarh. Drones and helicopters are keeping a close eye in and around Panchkula.

The authorities have sealed the road leading to the district court complex which has been sanitised by the forces. The Punjab and Haryana High Court has said "forces should not hesitate to use weapons, if required", while hearing a PIL on the situation in Panchkula.

A long trail of over 200 cars accompanied the 50-year-old baba as he left the Dera headquarters in Sirsa, about 260km from Chandigarh, for Panchkula around 9am. The Dera chief, who has been given Z+ by the government of Haryana, was joined by a number of his own security guards in the cavalcade.

At least 74 trains have been cancelled for today taking the total number of cancelled trains to 201, including 92 Mail/Express and 109 passenger trains.

While mobile internet services have been cut off in Haryana, Gurgaon, where top international firms have their offices, and Faridabad have remained unaffected.

In outer Delhi, which borders Haryana, around 14 police posts have been set up and a company of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) has been deployed.

"We're taking extra care in Peeragarhi, Kanjhawala, Mundka border and Baba Haridas Nagar police station limits which are closer to the border," a senior police officer told news agency IANS.

Deputy Commissioner of Police and Delhi Police spokesperson Madhur Verma added that "till now there has been no impact in the city".

The Home Ministry is closely monitoring the situation in the two neighbouring states. An official said that over 200 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Haryana and Punjab and over 50 paramilitary companies are ready in case of an emergency.

The United States Embassy and Consulates in India issued a safety advisory requesting its nationals to "avoid large gatherings, follow the advice of the local authorities, monitor local media, and keep in touch with their travel company".

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is accused of sexually exploiting two women followers. A case was registered in 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee received an anonymous letter about the alleged sexual assault. The trial began in 2007 , but the Dera chief has denied these charges.
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