Security stepped up in district

Sukhmeet Bhasin

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, January 10

The police have been kept on alert in the district in view of the CBI court verdict on Friday at Panchakula in the murder case of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati involving Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh as an accused.

The police are keeping a tab on the activities of dera followers in the district. Senior police officials also held a meeting with functionaries of the dera and asked them to keep their followers calm.

Sensitive areas have also been identified where incidents were reported in 2015 after the CBI court announced verdict against the dera head in a rape case.

Additional security personnel will be deployed on Friday at Salabatpura dera and other ‘naam charcha ghars’ in the district.

Dera Sacha Sauda has a huge presence in the region and the state headquarters of the Dera Sacha Sauda is also located at Salabatpura in Rampura area.

In August 2015, many incidents of violence were reported in the region when the CBI court convicted dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.

The SSP said extra vigil would be maintained in rural areas which house a large number of dera followers.

“We are in touch with the committee members of the dera and motivating them not to indulge in any kind of untoward incident,” he added.

The SSP said dera followers had ensured them that no such incident would take place, but still if anything happens then timely action would be taken as all arrangements are in place to maintain law and order.

Tab on activities

• The police are keeping a tab on the activities of dera followers in the district. Senior police officials also held a meeting with functionaries of the dera and asked them to keep their followers calm. 
• Sensitive areas have also been identified where incidents were reported in 2015 after the CBI court announced a verdict against the dera head in a rape case.