At least seven cases of arson have been reported in Delhi since the verdict against Gurmeet Ram Rahim, chief of Dera Sacha Sauda, was pronounced
New Delhi : As Punjab and Haryana witnessed widespread violence after Gurmeet Ram Rahim, chief of Dera Sacha Sauda sect, was declared a convict in a rape case, cases of arson were reported from many parts Delhi on Friday.
According to Atul Garg, Chief Fire Officer (Delhi Fire Services), seven incidents of people setting public property on fire were received at the fire control room. “At places such as Khyala and Manglapuri in west Delhi and Anand Vihar in east, properties have been set on fire. Violence is related to the Ram Rahim verdict,” said Garg.
Madhur Verma, Delhi Police PRO, said three persons have been arrested in Delhi for trying to set two buses on fire in west Delhi’s Khyala and south Delhi’s Badarpur.
“In Khyala, we have arrested two men. They tried to set a DTC bus on fire, but managed to burn only some seats. In Badarpur, some miscreants had barely set a seat on fire when local police prevented further arson,” said Verma.
He said these were local “miscreants” who were trying to create mischief. Atrain was also torched in Anand Vihar though the police are not confirming if it was a backlash of the verdict.
“Two empty rakes of Rewa Express at Anand Vihar station yard were set on fire. The police are investigating the reason behind the incident,” said Northern Railways spokesperson Neeraj Sharma. A railways official said they were trying to ascertain whether the case was linked to the verdict against Ram Rahim Singh.
A senior police officer said security in all bordering areas in Delhi has been stepped up.
“We have issued a general alert in all the police stations and sufficient arrangements have been made to prevent and tackle any untoward incidents,” said a senior police officer from of outer Delhi.
Violence broke out in several parts of Haryana and Punjab soon after Ram Rahim was pronounced guilty in a rape case.
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In parts of Punjab and Haryana, mobile internet services have been suspended for three days. While paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Panchkula, six columns of army has also been deployed to handle thousands of followers who gathered in support of the self-styled godman there.
The sect has a following mostly in the border region of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. It has its headquarters in Sirsa, Haryana.
