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India guru rape case: Five die in unrest as Ram Rahim Singh convicted | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Five people have been shot dead by security forces in violent protests over the rape conviction of a popular religious leader in north India. | |
The victims are believed to be Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's followers. Angry supporters are rampaging through Panchkula town. | The victims are believed to be Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's followers. Angry supporters are rampaging through Panchkula town. |
Reports of widespread vandalism are coming in. At least two railway stations have been set on fire. | |
Followers also smashed cars and set media vans alight. | Followers also smashed cars and set media vans alight. |
Singh, who claims to have millions of disciples, was found guilty of raping two women at the headquarters of his sect, known as Dera Sacha Sauda, in 2002. | |
More than 200,000 of his followers had flocked to the Chandigarh area ahead of Friday's verdict. | |
Thousands of army, police and paramilitary forces have been deployed. They are firing tear-gas canisters and water cannon into the crowd to try to restore control, says the BBC's Robin Singh in Panchkula. | |
At least a dozen people have been injured in the town. | |
Curfews have been imposed in several areas of the city and across the state of Punjab. | Curfews have been imposed in several areas of the city and across the state of Punjab. |
Meanwhile, violence has also spread to the capital, Delhi, where two train coaches have been set on fire, according to reports. | |
Singh, 50, was taken into protective custody by the army following the conviction. | |
The court is expected to sentence him on Monday. | The court is expected to sentence him on Monday. |
Who is Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh? | |
Read more: The flamboyant "godman" convicted of rape | |
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh criticised his counterpart in the state of Haryana for allowing so many of Singh's followers to travel to Chandigarh. | Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh criticised his counterpart in the state of Haryana for allowing so many of Singh's followers to travel to Chandigarh. |
Chandigarh is the capital of both states. | Chandigarh is the capital of both states. |
The border between the two states has been sealed. | |
Singh had arrived at court in Panchkula, near Chandigarh, from his ashram in Haryana in a convoy of more than 100 vehicles. | |
Schools and offices in the area were closed, trains were stopped, roads were blocked and three stadiums were set aside as makeshift prisons in case of trouble, officials said. | Schools and offices in the area were closed, trains were stopped, roads were blocked and three stadiums were set aside as makeshift prisons in case of trouble, officials said. |