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31 killed in clashes after Indian guru Ram Rahim convicted of rape

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Update: 2017-08-25 08:24:57
31 killed in clashes after Indian guru Ram Rahim convicted of rape 31 killed in clashes after Indian guru Ram Rahim convicted of rape, photo: collected

DHAKA: At least 31 people were killed and over hundred others injured in large clashes, arson and violence that erupted in the town of Panchkula in India’s Haryana state immediately after spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted of raping two women followers in 2002. 

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has been arrested and will be sentenced on Monday. A total of 31 people have died so far in the violence in Panchkula, according to reports published in Indian news media. 

Army was called in to help regain control by 5:00 pm Friday. A total of 600 soldiers were deployed in Panchkula. Before that, the police fired in the air, and used tear gas and water cannons to try and disperse mobs of Ram Rahim supporters, but was easily outnumbered near the court which declared him guilty. 

More than a lakh of Ram Rahim's followers had congregated in Panchkula for the verdict, creating a precarious situation. The media was attacked - an NDTV engineer was injured on the head and the OB or live broadcast vans of channels were smashed; NDTV's van was destroyed after being set on fire.

After violence in neighboring Haryana over Dera chief Ram Rahim's conviction in rape case, Delhi has been placed on high alert.

BDST: 1820 HRS, AUG 25, 2017
AP

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