Dera Dare, and Dread

Chandigarh, August 23

Haryana and Punjab have been put on high alert ahead of the Panchkula CBI Special Court verdict in the alleged rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh on Friday.

While prohibitory orders have been put in place in 10 districts of Haryana, Punjab has effected its biggest-ever deployment of security forces in a decade. The Army has been asked to be prepared for deployment at short notice.

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See detailed report on Haryana page: Maximum alert in Haryana, Punjab

More than 25,000 paramilitary force and police personnel have been deployed in Punjab. So far, 85 companies of the 250 requisitioned from the Centre have reached the state. As many as 53 companies of paramilitary forces have been deputed in Haryana.

Haryana’s Higher Education Department has declared a holiday in educational institutions on August 24 and 25.  Roadways buses would ply normally on their regular routes in the state over the next two days but will not enter Ambala and Panchkula as a precautionary measure.

In Punjab, all schools and colleges will remain closed on August 25. Buses will not ply to Haryana on that day.  — TNS