Rohtak, August 27: Tense atmosphere prevailed in Rohtak on the eve of the sentencing of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is lodged in the Sunaria jail here.
The town has been turned into a fortress with a massive deployment of security forces. Curfew had not yet been clamped even though Section 144 of the CrPC (prohibiting assembly of more than four people in an area) remained in force. Around 1,500 policemen along with 23 companies of Central paramilitary forces had been deployed and the Army had been put on alert.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made around the Sunaria jail complex located on the outskirts of the town. Numerous checkpoints, manned by paramilitary and police personnel, have been set up at strategic points. Public transport to Rohtak has been suspended to check the possibility of dera followers entering the town, while traffic from roads leading to the prison has been diverted to alternative routes.
Haryana ADGP (Law and Order) Muhammad Akil and IGP (CID) Anil Kumar Rao reviewed the arrangements and took stock of the situation today. “We are fully prepared to ensure law and order in view of the pronouncement of judgment against the dera chief tomorrow. As many as 10 premises of the dera located in the range have been evacuated and sealed, and nearly 100 dera followers placed under preventive detention,” said Rohtak range IGP Navdeep Singh Virk at a news conference.
The Deputy Commissioner has asked people to refrain from coming to Rohtak tomorrow unless it is urgent. He advised people to carry their valid IDs and other documents. Those failing to produce IDs/documents would be taken into custody, he added.
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