Enraged by the rape conviction of self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh today, thousands of his followers went on the rampage, setting fire to vehicles, buildings and railways stations. At least five people were killed and scores injured.
Police fired in the air, lobbed tear gas and let loose water cannons on the protesters to quell the violence, which appeared to spread beyond Panchkula to many places in Haryana, Punjab and even Rajasthan.
The duty doctor at the Civil Hospital in Panchkula said at least five people were killed and 50 injured, including jouranlists and police. Media reports put the number of injured at more than 100.
A reporter of CNN News 18 TV said a steady stream of ambulances was bringing scores of injured people to the hospital, soaked in blood. He described the scene as “war zone.” It was not clear if the injuries were due to police action or violence by Dera followers, which included a large number of women.
“The flow of injured is not stopping,” said the reporter in his dispatch, which also showed pictures of vehicles burning.
Curfew was clamped in Panchkula, a suburb of Chandigarh, where a court earlier convicted Ram Rahim, the chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda, a quasi-religious group. Security was also beefed up in parts of northern India, including New Delhi and Lucknow.
But the curfew had little effect on the protesters, who also set fire to Malout and Balluanna railway stations in Punjab, according to the Northern Railways. Many motorcycles, cars and buildings, including an Income Tax building in Mansa in Punjab, were also set on fire.
Six columns of Army, comprising a total of 500 to 600 soldiers were deployed in Panchkula.
The situation was worsening in parts of Punjab, mainly in Malwa region, the stronghold of Dera Sacha Sauda.
At least three OB vans of private television channels were damaged. Two vans were overturned by a mob.
The India Today Group’s TV channel showed pictures of its correspondent and cameraman being attacked while they were travelling in a van in Sirsa, the Dera’s headquarters. The camera captured images of the windshield and windows being struck by men with sticks.
The glass shattered and one of the occupants of the van was heard moaning. The video then showed his bloodied face.
The police fired in the air and lobbed tear gas shells on sections of the crowds, many of them camping since last night on the streets of Panchkula.
CBI judge Jagdeep Singh, while holding the 50-year-old Dera chief guilty of raping a female follower more than 15 years ago, said the quantum of sentence would be pronounced on August 28.
The punishment can be a jail term of not less than seven years but may even extend to life imprisonment.