Army, paramilitary forces enter dera headquarters in Sirsa

NEW DELHI: To bring law and order situation under control, Army and paramilitary forces have entered the premises of Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Haryana's Sirsa today.

Dera followers have been asked to vacate the Dera after entry of armed forces. An estimated one lakh supporters, including women and children, are believed to be present in the premises. The Army and district authorities have been making announcements through loudspeakers, asking those inside to leave the premises.

Armed forces have set up a three-layer security cordon around the Dera headquarters.


According to reports, despite several appeals by the Army and authorities, defiant followers have stayed put.




Authorities in Haryana have also ordered security forces to crack down on the sect campuses elsewhere in Haryana. Dera followers have been asked to move out.

The Haryana government counsel told the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Saturday that there were 36 Dera campuses, known as 'Naam Charcha Ghar' across the state, including the sprawling 800-acre sect headquarters near Sirsa town.

Sources in the government said that two Dera premises in Kurukshetra district had already been sealed by the local authorities after getting these vacated of Dera followers.

Action was being initiated in other districts to get Dera campuses vacated and disperse the sect followers.

After the CBI court in Panchkula convicted Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim in a 2002 rape case yesterday, frenzied Dera followers went on a rampage and clashed with security personnel. At least 29 people were killed and 250 injured in Panchkula while two died in Sirsa.

Fifteen Dera followers have been arrested since last night here, police said.

"We will not spare those who have taken the law in their hands. We will take strict action against them," IG (Hisar) AS Dhillon said.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday chaired a high-level meeting to review the security situation in Haryana. The meeting lasted for over two and a half hours and was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Intelligence Bureau chief Rajiv Jain and other Home Ministry officials.

Government has also withdrawn 'Z plus' security to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.