City Reports

Rajasthan: Ram Rahim supporters put vehicles, govt offices on fire in Sriganganagar

Police resort to lathicharge to disperse the crowd of angry followers.

pinkcitypost author img

February 1, 2018, 3:36 pm

Array
fire arson

Representative image.

Jaipur: Rajasthan police’s worst nightmare came true when despite taking all precautions, a law and order situation was reported in Sriganganagar on Friday.

Followers of Gurmeet Ram Rahim indulged in arson, setting on fire two vehicles, an electricity department office and a labour court after the self-styled godman was pronounced guilty of sexual harassment by a Panchkula court on Friday.

Supporters of Dera Sacha Sauda started gathering in small pockets in Sriganganagar city. One of the groups marched to the electricity department’s office (City third) and set it on fire. Computer and furniture are reported to have been gutted in the fire.

Some people also set afire the official vehicle of an assistant engineer. They tried to torch a labor department office in Purani Abadi area.

Police resorted to mild lathicharge to disperse the crowd.

Many supporters marched towards Gursar Modia village, the birthplace of Ram Rahim, in Srigangangar.

There are reports that some people were seen torching vehicles and government offices. They had come to these places on bikes.

The police have launched a hunt for them.

The administration in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar districts had on Thursday imposed section 144 of CrPC, banning gathering of five or more people and snapped mobile internet services for 48 hours to prevent spread of rumors ahead of the Ram Rahim rape verdict.

The case, filed in 2002, accuses Ram Rahim of sexually exploiting two women followers at his ashram. The verdict came on Friday afternoon. The self-styled godman was held guilty of rape by a Panchkula court.

Read also: Ram Rahim rape verdict: Internet services snapped in Hanumangarh and Sriganganagar

First published: August 25, 2017