PM condemns violence over Dera Chief Gurmeet’s Conviction

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has condemned the instances of violence in parts of the country, which erupted following the court ruling convicting the local sect guru.

“The instances of violence today are deeply distressing. I strongly condemn the violence and urge everyone to maintain peace. The law and order situation is being closely monitored. I reviewed the situation with the NSA and Home Secretary. (I had) Urged officials to work round the clock to restore normalcy and provide all possible assistance that is required”, the Prime Minister said.

The trigger to violence came when the local sect guru Dera Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim was convicted of rape of two women in his ashram. The special court of CBI, armed with irrefutable evidence, found him guilty on Friday. He will be sentenced to prison term on Monday by the court.

Meanwhile, the cult figure’s followers in Punjab turned violent and set several vehicles afire and created havoc in the states of Haryana and Punjab leading to heavy police bandobust and imposing of curfew in several areas.

The state of Punjab has been facing the twin problems of drugs and atrocities on women for the last 10 years and the Dera guru had reportedly helped many to come out of drug menace but in the process misused his power over the minds of his followers.

His followers were known to be ardent believers in his powers and tend to turn violent whoever questions his super-natural powers. Two deaths in the ashram in the past were not proved as nobody provided witness count. Many rapes go unreported, said earlier reports.