Security tightened in Panchkula ahead of Dera chief's hearing in murder cases

Panchkula (Haryana) [India], Sept 16 (ANI): The security has been tightened in Panchkula town, ahead of the hearing of two separate murder cases against Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the court of Special CBI judge Jagdeep Singh here today.

Dera followers and functionaries had allegedly murdered Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and former Dera manager Ranjit Singh in 2002 on Chief Ram Rahim's orders.

On August 25, the Dera Chief had been convicted of raping two women followers and was sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment by the Special CBI court.

He has been completing his sentence in Sunaria Jail near Rohtak. Since he can't be physically produced before the court, the hearing will take place via a video call.

Although, there have been no reports of Dera followers assembling in Panchkula ahead of the hearing, it has been revealed that the authorities are not compromising on any security measures.

Dera followers in Panchkula had assembled in August ahead of the hearing of rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda chief.

Violence had broken out in Panchkula and other parts of Haryana and Punjab as well as in Delhi after the verdict against Ram Rahim was announced, wherein 38 people died while 264 were injured. (ANI)