12 dead, scores injured as as Dera followers go on the rampage

At least 12 people were killed and scores injured in widespread rioting after enraged followers of self-styed godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh went on a rampage to protest his rape conviction today.

Within two hours of his conviction by a CBI court, the violence had left a trail of burnt vehicles, buildings and railway stations in Punjab and Haryana. Hospitals were overwhelmed with the stream of injured people being brought in.

At least 12 people were killed, said Vivek Bhadu, the chief medical officer of the Civil Hospital in Panchkula, a suburb of Chandigarh where Ram Rahim was earlier pronounced guilty.
 

Police fired in the air, lobbed tear gas and let loose water cannons on the protesters to quell the violence, which spread beyond Panchkula to many places in Haryana, Punjab and even Rajasthan.

The injured included journalists and police personnel. Media reports put the number of injured at more than 100.

A reporter of CNN News 18 TV said a steady stream of ambulances was bringing scores of injured people to the hospital, soaked in blood. He described the scene as "war zone." It was not clear if the injuries were due to police action or violence by Dera followers, which included a large number of women.

"The flow of injured is not stopping," said the reporter in his dispatch, which also showed pictures of vehicles burning.

Ram Rahim is the chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda, a quasi- religious group, and was accused in 2002 of sexually exploiting two female followers. He was whisked away after the conviction and the sentencing will take place on Monday. He faces imprisonment of seven years to life imprisonment.

Security was also beefed up in parts of northern India, including New Delhi and Lucknow.

Although prohibitory orders were in place in Panchkula, it had little effect on the protesters, who also set fire to Malout and Balluanna railway stations in Punjab, according to the Northern Railways. Many motorcycles, cars and buildings, including an Income Tax building in Mansa in Punjab, were set on fire.

Six columns of Army, comprising a total of 500 to 600 soldiers were deployed in Panchkula.

The situation was worsening in parts of Punjab, mainly in Malwa region, the stronghold of Dera Sacha Sauda.

At least three OB vans of private television channels were damaged. Two vans were overturned by a mob.

The India Today Group's TV channel showed pictures of its correspondent and cameraman being attacked while they were travelling in a van in Sirsa, the Dera's headquarters. The camera captured images of the windshield and windows being struck by men with sticks.

The glass shattered and one of the occupants of the van was heard moaning. The video then showed his bloodied face.

The police fired in the air and lobbed tear gas shells on sections of the crowds, many of them camping since last night on the streets of Panchkula.