Chandigarh: Self-declared spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been found guilty of raping two women followers in 2002. He will be sentenced on Monday.
Ram Rahim, the spiritual leader of the Dera Sacha Sauda arrived in a car cavalcade which included hundreds of cars this afternoon in Panchkula.
As his verdict was announced, many of his followers wept, some even fainted. Ram Rahim had said he is not guilty of the charges against him.
The situation was tense at the Dera headquarters, about eight km from Sirsa town.
The district administration in Sirsa has imposed curfew from 10 pm on Thursday. However, people were seen roaming around the sect headquarters.
Dera spokesman Aditya Insan said the sect followers will maintain peace in Sirsa and Panchkula.
“There are around five lakh followers who have gathered in and around Sirsa. There are about seven to eight lakh followers gathered in Panchkula,” the spokesman said.
Reports are coming in that the Dera chief has been taken into custody and will be taken to the Rohtaik Jail in a chopper. Meanwhile his supporters who call themselves ‘Premis’ have gathered at a spot and are observing ‘silence’ after the verdict.
Unconfirmed reports said nearly 1.5 lakh Dera supporters have assembled in Panchkula town.
This is a developing story. More to come…
