Dera violence case falling flat?

The much-publicized case of widespread violence and arson in Panchkula near Chandigarh that led to the death of 32 persons in 3 hours after the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh appears to be falling flat.

The police have failed to produce substantial evidence in Court against Dera followers who ran amok that ill-fated day on August 25 last year burning media OB vans and public property. One after the other, the Court is acquitting the accused of the charges, a development that comes as a setback for the state police.

A few days ago, as many as 6 Dera followers were acquitted by the Court. Panchkula police commissioner Charu Bali said the investigating team that filed the charge-sheet in the court tried to put up the best available evidence before the Judge. The police had opened fire after violence broke. As many as 32 persons on the streets of Panchkula within a few hours in police firing.

Dera Sacha chief’s key aide Honeypreet, who is behind bars, is also facing similar charges. Gurmeet Ram Rahim is undergoing a 20-year jail term after his sentencing in the two rape cases of his disciples. At least 40 persons had died in the violence that erupted that ill-fated day in Panchkula and Sirsa - the two epicentres of the violence. The police had booked scores of persons in various FIRs that were registered following the violence in Panchkula. The accused are being acquitted for want of sufficient evidence to prove them guilty in the court.

The investigating team earlier too had suffered a setback after the Court dropped charges of sedition against many of the accused. The state government had not granted approval to pursue charges of sedition against the many of these accused which is why the court dropped these charges. Government sanction is required in case the investigating agency want to take the case forward on sedition charges.