Authorities engaged in the search operation of the Dera Sacha Sauda premises today confirmed that a window-like route from the Dera chief’s room led straight to the hostel where women disciples would stay. It was connected by a fiber-tunnel to the other side.

Rape convict Gurmeet Singh’s “Gufa” (cave) which was renamed “tera vaas” (your house) was extensively searched on Saturday as the search operation entered day two. The sect is a sprawling 750 acres. An empty box usually meant for cartridges of an AK-47 assault rifle was recovered.

An unauthorized factory within the Dera where the explosive material was used as a raw material was sealed. Over 80 boxes of firecrackers stocked up inside the premises have been confiscated. Sources said, these were ready-to-use crackers. Certain animals confined in the Sect have been rescued. Hundreds of batons recovered from inside were clubbed and moved out. The search operation will resume tomorrow.

The sect has been segregated in 10 zones for the drive. Several hundreds of police and security men have been engaged in the sanitization of the sect. Forensic experts, bomb disposal and dog squads are actively participating in the operation. Revenue, bank officials are also involved. Satish Mehra, deputy director of the public relations department in Sirsa said, “From the 'gufa' where the Dera head used to stay, a gateway was found which opens to 'Sadhvi Niwas', where his women disciples would live. A fiber tunnel too has been located during the search which was filled with mud,” he said.

Media persons have been kept away from the sect premises where the drive is being undertaken. Over 5000 security personnel, including 44 companies of para military forces and 4 Army columns have been deployed to prevent any violence. Expert geologists from the IIT Roorkee are also lending a helping hand. They have come with devices that provide images of sub-soil areas from the surface. The devices are being put to use in many areas of the sect, including the Dera chief’s room.

Gurmeet Singh has been sentenced to 20-years of rigorous imprisonment by a CBI court for the rape of two women. On Friday, illegal plastic currency, cash, hard discs, computers, designer dresses, loads of shoes among other things were confiscated. Meanwhile, doctors of the PGI Rohtak visited the Rohtak jail on Saturday after Gurmeet Singh complained of uneasiness, it is learnt. The convict, who is protected by 15-20 security personnel in the jail, is now said to be at ease.

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