Amid tension, Dera congregation is peaceful (Roundup)

CHANDIGARH/SIRSA - Even as an uneasy calm prevailed in Punjab and Haryana, the monthly congregation of the controversial Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmit Ram Rahim Singh was held peacefully at the sect’s headquarters in Haryana’s Sirsa town Sunday.

Supporters of the sect had gone on a rampage in parts of Punjab and Haryana Saturday evening to protest against the registration of another murder case against their spiritual leader Gurmit.

Addressing the congregation, Gurmit said: Dera has nothing to do with recent incidents of arson or damage to property. I appeal all my devotees to maintain peace.

But he added: The fresh case registered by CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) is ‘100 percent false’ and we have nothing to do with this alleged murder case.

After the congregation, attended by tens of thousands, Dera officials condemned the CBI for registering a fresh murder case against their chief.

Without any solid proof, CBI has lodged an FIR against Guruji (Gurmit), which puts a question mark on their integrity. We will follow legal course of action, Dera spokesperson Aditya Insaan said in Sirsa.

Meanwhile, the violence-hit parts of Punjab and Haryana were returning to normalcy Sunday.

“The situation is under control. Bathinda, Moga and Ferozepur districts, which were the worst hit by violence yesterday (Saturday), are totally peaceful,” Inspector General of Police Rohit Chaudhary told IANS Sunday.

“Heavy police force has been deployed in these areas. There are continuous patrolling and search operations to trace out anti-social elements.

“People are gradually coming back to their daily routine. Public transport has resumed. But we are extra-vigilant and keeping a close watch on all developments,” he added.

Haryana Director General of Police V.N. Rai told IANS: “The situation is totally peaceful. No untoward incident has been reported from any part of Haryana since night.”

To avoid any trouble, the districts of Sirsa, Fatehabad, Jind and Hisar in Haryana had imposed Section 144 to prohibit the gathering of five or more people.

Police have rounded up 140 people on charges of arson and rioting in Punjab and Haryana. Ninety arrests were made in Punjab.

“Most of them are youngsters in the age group of 18 to 25 years. Our investigation is on to ascertain the reason behind the provocation,” said a senior Punjab Police official.

The Haryana Police, which rounded up over 50 youths, have called additional companies of paramilitary forces to help maintain law and order in the state.

Dera followers, known as ‘Premis’, went on the rampage Saturday and burnt over a dozen rail coaches in Punjab and Haryana, forcing the authorities to cancel some train services.

At least 40 buses were torched and public property was destroyed in Moga, Bathinda, Mansa, Barnala and Ferozepur towns of Punjab and Sirsa, Hisar, Kaithal and Fatehabad in Haryana.

The sect chief was booked by the CBI this week for the murder of former Dera manager Faqir Chand in 1991. Chand’s body was never found. The CBI conducted an inquiry into the alleged killing on court orders.

Besides the sect chief, the CBI has booked four other members of the Dera for murder, destroying evidence and for hatching criminal conspiracy.

The sect chief is already facing three cases, two of murder conspiracy and one of rape in a CBI special court in Ambala town of Haryana.

The Dera Sacha Sauda sect, which has a following all over the country, is headquartered in Sirsa town in Haryana, 275 km from here.