Panchkula (Haryana): A trail of death and destruction descended on Panchkula, otherwise a peaceful city of Haryana, as soon as the self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted by a special CBI court here in a rape case. The violence and arson by the supporters of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief brought back the chilling memories of last year when this city, on the outskirts of Chandigarh, witnessed agitation by the Jats over reservation.
Followers of Ram Rahim, who had gathered here in thousands over the past four days, went on a rampage, hurling stones, vandalising media vehicles and setting afire several vehicles, many among them two wheelers.
Thick smoke billowed high in the sky as terrified local residents locked themselves inside their homes as scenes outside shook even the toughest of the tough to the bone. "My motorcycle has been burnt down. I had parked it near the road and gone nearby for some work," said a young man working with a private company.
A steady stream of ambulances was bringing scores of injured people to the local civil hospital. It was not clear if the injuries were due to police action or violence by Dera followers. Many women among the followers who had gathered here gave a tough time to the police and paramilitary personnel.
Immediately after the CBI court here convicted the Dera Sacha Sauda chief, many of his followers broke police barricades and security cordons.
At least three OB vans of private television channels were damaged. Two vans were overturned by a mob.
CBI judge Jagdeep Singh, while holding the 50-year-old Dera chief guilty of rape, said the quantum of sentence would be pronounced on August 28, CBI counsel HPS Verma told reporters outside the court.
Punjab and Haryana High court had come down heavily on the Haryana government for its apparent inability to maintain law and order in the state ahead of the CBI court verdict and pulled it up for not imposing Section 144 CrPC correctly to prevent the huge gathering of Dera followers in Panchkula.
The bench had asserted that the court did not want a repeat of situation similar to the one witnessed in February last year when violence during Jat reservation stir in Haryana claimed 30 lives and property worth hundreds of crores of rupees was damaged by arsonists.
Friday's violence was third major incident after last year's Jat agitation violence and November 2015 when there was a two-week tense standoff between some of the self-styled 'godman' Rampal's followers and the police in Hisar during which five women and a child had died.
Probe against Dera chief was 'game of wits', recalls former official
New Delhi: With a senior directing them to close the case and the woman who alleged sexual abuse getting married, it was a "game of wits" for the CBI team that probed the rape case against Gurmeet Ram Rahim, recalled a retired officer on Friday.
As a special CBI court in Panchkula convicted the Dera Sacha Sauda chief of rape, triggering widespread violence, it was flashback time for former CBI joint director Mulinja Narayanan, who headed the probe. "It was a game of wits. Sometimes we won and sometimes we lost but, at the end, today's verdict showed that no one can escape the law of the land," he said.
Narayanan was posted as Deputy Inspector General of Police (Special Crimes) in Delhi when the Punjab and Haryana High Court handed the case to the CBI in September 2002.
"The case was registered on December 12, 2002 and suddenly I found a senior CBI official entering my room and directing me that the case needs to be closed and no action should be taken," the retired officer said.
Khattar admits lapses in handling Dera situation
Chandigarh: Under fire over the handling of the situation arising out of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's conviction, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Friday admitted that there were lapses but asserted appropriate action was being taken.
Facing a volley of questions from reporters on the violence that has left at least 30 people dead and scores injured, he said the "lapses have been identified and we are taking appropriate steps".
"This should not have happened," he said.
"Some people have lost lives and vehicles have been set on fire while government property too has been damaged. Some OB vans of the media have also been damaged by the mob," Khattar said.
"All those who have taken law into their hands will be punished. We have identified some culprits including those who fired (from the mob at security forces), some of whom have been nabbed and action will be taken against them," he said.
The government will assess the damage, he added.
Asked how thousands of Dera followers managed to reach Panchkula and was his government prepared for this, Khattar said, "We were prepared to deal with the situation. Since it was a very
big mob..."
Khattar ducked a question on how thousands of Dera followers managed to reach Panchkula despite Section 144 being imposed much earlier.
When repeatedly asked how the followers managed to reach in such big numbers and whether it was a failure of his government, he replied, "When such issue comes where you are dealing with followers in such numbers... We tried to stop them..."
Khattar, facing unending questions from the reporters, had to plead with them to at least listen to what he had
to say.
"I have to answer, listen to me," he said.
When told that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had come down heavily on the state government over the mishandling of the situation in Panchkula, Khattar said, "I have to give answer and I will give... If you do not listen to me..."
To another question, the Haryana Chief Minister said the state has rushed paramilitary forces to all those places in addition to Panchkula and Sirsa where it feels the situation can take an ugly turn.
He said the damage caused to some media personnel's equipment during the violence here will be taken care of the government.
He also said the state government will provide full compensation within a week to those persons whose property was damaged.
A website would be created where claimants can enter details regarding their damaged property, including vehicles and OB vans, he said, adding the portal would be launched within a day.
Khattar also urged the people to get their FIRs lodged online on HarSamay portal of Haryana Police.
"The amount of compensation will later be recovered from the property of Dera Sacha Sauda," he added.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh expressed shock that "the situation in Panchkula was allowed to escalate by the Haryana government".
Taking cue from this "unsolicited" advice, Narayanan said he sensed there were many skeletons in this cupboard and decided to probe all aspects of the case.
"Later, as the investigations carried on, many powerful politicians and business persons walked into the CBI headquarters and put lot of pressure to close the case. But thanks to the judiciary, we could manage to complete our investigation," he said.
Narayanan, 67, who retired in 2009 after putting in 38 years of service, was the first officer in the CBI who rose from the post of sub-inspector to joint director. He also spoke about the difficulties in investigating the case.
"The girl, who had been sexually abused in 1999, had since left Dera and got married. It was a daunting task to convince her as well as her family members. Thankfully, I played the role of a father for her and ensured that she not only gives her statement but also testifies before a magistrate.
"I wanted to ensure that no one plays dirty and weakens the case later. Therefore, I got the statement of the girl recorded before a magistrate so that retracting it becomes nearly impossible."
The man himself appeared scared during questioning, Narayanan remembered.
"... he did not give any direct reply. He pretended to be a baba but my instincts told me that he was a scared person during the questioning."
He said he was under pressure even from his juniors.
"My seniors knew my professionalism. I do not succumb to pressures but what surprised me was that some of my subordinate staff came and made vehement requests that I should stop the probe against Gurmeet Singh."
Narayanan was decorated with a Police Medal for Meritorious Services in 1992 and a President s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 1999.
The case against Gurmeet was registered in 2002 following anonymous letters alleging that he had sexually exploited two 'sadhvis'.