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Ram Rahim Singh: fears of unrest as Indian guru is convicted of rape Ram Rahim Singh: clashes outside court after Indian guru convicted of rape
(35 minutes later)
An Indian spiritual leader has been convicted of rape by a court in the northern city of Panchkula, raising fears of unrest after tens of thousands of his followers descended on the city. A court in the north Indian city of Panchkula has convicted a flamboyant Indian spiritual leader of raping two of his female followers, sparking clashes between police and tens of thousands of his followers.
The Indian army has been on standby in Punjab and Haryana, surveillance drones are circling, and schools and roads have been shut in Panchkula, over fears that supporters of Ram Rahim Singh may turn violent. The Indian army was deployed in the city shortly after the court pronounced Ram Rahim Singh guilty of sexual assault. The self-styled “godman” has been taken into custody and will reportedly be flown by helicopter to a jail in Haryana state before sentencing on Monday.
Singh, a flamboyant “godman” nicknamed the “guru of bling”, will be sentenced on Monday, the court said. Electricity supplies, mobile internet and cable television had been cut in parts of Haryana and Punjab state ahead of the verdict as up to 200,000 members of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect massed in Panchkula as a show of defiance and support.
The guru, considered one of the most powerful men in India, runs the 69-year-old sect from its ashram headquarters on a sprawling, 1,000-acre Haryana property that boasts its own hotel, cinema, cricket stadium and schools. Early reports following the guilty verdict said cars were being vandalised and that Singh’s supporters were clashing with police who were firing tear gas in response. There were also reports of attacks on journalists and media vans that were parked outside the court.
Singh, one of the most powerful men in India, runs the 69-year-old from its ashram headquarters on a sprawling, 1,000-acre Haryana property that boasts its own hotel, cinema, cricket stadium and schools.
Singh, who claims to have 60 million followers around the world, has been accused by India’s elite Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of sexually assaulting two female former members of the sect.Singh, who claims to have 60 million followers around the world, has been accused by India’s elite Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) of sexually assaulting two female former members of the sect.
The rape allegations, which Singh denies, first surfaced in an anonymous letter sent to the Indian prime minister in 2002. Scrutiny of the ashram grew when a journalist investigating Dera Sacha Sauda was shot dead the same year.The rape allegations, which Singh denies, first surfaced in an anonymous letter sent to the Indian prime minister in 2002. Scrutiny of the ashram grew when a journalist investigating Dera Sacha Sauda was shot dead the same year.
The CBI alleges Singh was involved in murdering the journalist after suspecting he was responsible for helping to circulate the anonymous letter, according to the Hindustan Times. He is facing a separate, ongoing trial in that case and denies the charges.The CBI alleges Singh was involved in murdering the journalist after suspecting he was responsible for helping to circulate the anonymous letter, according to the Hindustan Times. He is facing a separate, ongoing trial in that case and denies the charges.
Gurus are enlightening influences in the lives of many Indians, guiding decisions both sacred and mundane, but few have the following of Singh nor his political clout.Gurus are enlightening influences in the lives of many Indians, guiding decisions both sacred and mundane, but few have the following of Singh nor his political clout.
About 7,000 police officers were stationed in Panchkula ahead of the verdict, and mobile internet services were suspended. Hundreds of hospital beds have been reserved for possible casualties while, in the nearby city of Chandigarh, a cricket stadium has been prepared as a temporary jail, according to New Delhi Television.About 7,000 police officers were stationed in Panchkula ahead of the verdict, and mobile internet services were suspended. Hundreds of hospital beds have been reserved for possible casualties while, in the nearby city of Chandigarh, a cricket stadium has been prepared as a temporary jail, according to New Delhi Television.
In neighbouring Punjab, which shares its capital Chandigarh with Haryana, hundreds of train services have been cancelled while firearms and gatherings have been temporarily banned.In neighbouring Punjab, which shares its capital Chandigarh with Haryana, hundreds of train services have been cancelled while firearms and gatherings have been temporarily banned.
The US embassy in Delhi has also put out a travel advisory urging its citizens in India to be wary of possible unrest in the wake of the verdict.The US embassy in Delhi has also put out a travel advisory urging its citizens in India to be wary of possible unrest in the wake of the verdict.