Ahead of dera verdict, followers pour into Panchkula; Punjab, Haryana on alert

Chandigarh, August 23
Followers of Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, kept pouring into Panchkula on Wednesday ahead of the August 25 verdict in the rape case against Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
The CBI judge had recently reserved verdict in the case, which is to be announced on Friday at the district court in Panchkula.
Meanwhile, security has been tightened in Panchkula with police frisking the followers at all entry points to the town.
Followers have been gathering at the Sector 23 Nam Charcha Ghar since Tuesday.Security personnel have been holding flag marches at various places. As a precautionary measure, Chandigarh Police have barred the use of escalators at the local railway station.
Meanwhile, at Muktsar, Punjab DGP Suresh Arora held a meeting with the civil administration and police officials of Muktsar and Fazilka districts to review the security arrangements.
Replying to a query, the DGP said, “We have enough force. There are magistrates, police magistrates and paramilitary forces. All are working in tandem and the situation is under control at the moment.”