3 killed in clashes near Dera HQ

Mob torches milk plant, paper mill and power sub-station after verdict

Three persons were killed and four sustained injuries in violent clashes between the supporters of the Dera chief and the police in Sirsa as violence erupted near the Dera headquarters here on Friday evening, soon after the CBI court pronounced its verdict holding Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh guilty in a rape case.

The clashes took place around 5 p.m. after a mob torched a milk plant, a paper mill and a power sub-station near Shahpur Begu village. A Hindi news channel journalist was also manhandled by the mob.

3 in serious condition

One of the deceased has been identified as Wazir Chand, a resident of Sukh Sagar Colony. The identities of the other two deceased were yet to be established. “Three of the injured are serious and have been referred to the medical college hospital in Abroha,” said Deputy Director, Haryana Public Relations Department, Satish Mehra.

The violent protests against the verdict, however, mostly remained confined to the neighbourhood of the Dera Sacha Sauda premises on the outskirts of the city. Gurbaksh, one of the Dera followers, said the verdict was not acceptable to him and lakhs of the supporters.