Sirsa (Haryana), August 27 : One cameraman was injured after a team of mediapersons was attacked by some followers of Dera Sacha Sauda outside the old Dera here on Sunday. Reports said some 7-8 Dera followers were involved in the attack. Earlier in the day, the district administration relaxed curfew for five hours in and around Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters here, after restrictions were imposed on August 24. Petrol pumps, shops and other commercial establishments were allowed to open in the area.
“I was not able to purchase essential items for my household since Thursday night due to imposition of curfew. I will buy sufficient stock of such items,” Surender Soni, a resident of Begu area near Dera headquarters, said. Curfew-like restrictions were imposed here on Thursday in view of the rape case judgment against Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh. Tension had gripped the locals on Friday, after the Dera head was convicted of rape by a special CBI court in Panchkula, as the frenzied followers of the sect asserted they were ready to go to any extent to avenge their spiritual leader’s conviction. Yesterday, several Dera followers made their way out of the sprawling sect premises after the police urged them to vacate the place. Around 1 lakh people, including women and children, were present in the sect headquarters.
No incident of violence was reported from any part of the town
The conviction of the Dera head triggered arson and violence across Haryana that claimed 36 lives and injured over 250 people.In Sirsa, four persons died and 58 have been injured. The violence also spilled over into neighbouring Punjab, Rajasthan and Delhi.Curfew was also lifted in Bathinda and Ferozepur, and will be suspended in Mansa – where Chief Minister Amarinder Singh will visit-from 7 am to 7 pm.