24 vehicles in convoy of dera chief impounded in Panchkula: Police

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, August 27

At least 24 vehicles, most of them SUVs, which were part of the convoy of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim when he came to appear in the Panchkula court on August 25, were impounded on Saturday night while around 120 vehicles are still in the city, claimed the police on Sunday.                 

Police also impounded one fire tender which contained some unknown chemical, which was accompanying the convoy. 

Forensic teams have been called in to check the substance. An SIT has been formed to look into the matter.

Dera spokespersons Aditya Insan and Dhiman Insan along with two others were booked in a sedition charge based on news reports by the Haryana Police. An FIR has been registered at Sector 5 police station.

As many as 150 policemen, led by SP Astha Modi, conducted a check at Mansa Devi complex from 3 to 5 pm to ascertain if any damage was done to the houses.

Meanwhile, Haryana Home Department has ordered the suspension of mobile Internet, SMS and all dongle services till 11.30 am on August 29 in the state.

In the premises of Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, even broadband and Internet lease lines have been suspended.

More than 50 dera followers, who were armed with rifles, pistols and petrol, were arrested at Singh Dwar on Friday night.

Five country-made pistols and two rifles were recovered from them along with live cartridges.

According to the police, a crowd was coming towards Singh Dwar at Mansa Devi Complex in Panchkula. They were armed with sticks, rods, petrol and diesel containers and firearms.

They were yelling that the government was responsible for the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and they would upstage the government.

They were also saying that they would kill anyone who would come in front of them. The police said they talked to them and tried to pacify them but they entered into a scuffle with the policemen.

Subhash Chander, a resident of Fatehabad, was arrested with a country-made pistol and 10 rounds, Dharam Singh of Sirsa with one rifle, a country-made pistol and 32 rounds, Gurbaaz Singh of Sirsa with one rifle and 28 rounds, Kishore of Dabwali with one country-made pistol and 48 rounds, Suresh Kumar of Sirsa with one country-made pistol and 12 rounds, Gurnam Singh of Sirsa with one country-made pistol and eight rounds and the rest of the crowd was arrested with rods and sticks, and plastic containers carrying petrol and diesel.