HANDIGARH: The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday said the mayhem caused by followers of self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh last Friday was a “war-like situation” which had to be tackled accordingly.
“You have to hit hard in riot…It was a war-like situation. It was to be fought like war,” the bench said.
Senior advocate Anupam Gupta, assisting the court, also said that he disagrees with the dera counsel as the entire Haryana would have burnt had the security forces not responded strongly to the situation.
However, some other lawyers assisting the court, including senior advocate Reeta Kohli, pointed out that most of those who died in firing had been shot in head and chest, which should not have happened.
The Haryana government claimed before the court that it did not remove the Dera Sacha Sauda followers from Panchkula ahead of the rape case verdict against sect head Gurmeet Ram Rahim on August 25, to ensure his presence before the court.
“He was using followers. Had we failed in ensuring his presence before court here, the casualties could have been of largescale in getting him from his dera in Sirsa,” state advocate general (AG) BR Mahajan said, while referring to the large gatherings of folowers, including the one seen at 7-acre dera in Panchkula.
The AG also said Ram Rahim’s accomplices tried to free him, when he was arrested at the court complex post-conviction.
“He was using his followers. Most of them did not know what may happen in Pacnhkula,” Mahajan told the high court.
“Use of force ahead of hearing could have been made as an excuse by him for non-appearance in court…Violence was managed by him.”
The court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Panchkula resident Ravinder Dhull, a lawyer who had raised the law and order concerns and stated that over 1.5 lakh people had reportedly entered the district, despite prohibitory orders.
The bench, while pointing out to weapons, iron rods, petrol bombs, sticks seized in the aftermath of the Panchkula violence, questioned the AG as to how the state presumed that all of those who had came to Panchuka were there for a “peaceful gathering.”
The AG admitted that some “shortcomings” may have been there in handling the situation, but the intent was to prevent bigger damage which arsonists could have inflicted in such a situation.
PUNJAB, HRY TOLD TO FORM SIT
Meanwhile, the HC directed that to investigate all the FIRs registered at various places in connection with the dera violence, both Haryana and Punjab set up special investigation teams (SITs) of three officers each, to be headed by an officer not below the rank of additional director general of police (ADGP).
The court said no FIR registered by the two states during the episode shall be cancelled without its permission.
The HC bench also sought a detailed status report from the Haryana government regarding steps taken to sanitise dera centres, including headquarters at Sirsa. Earlier, Haryana stated that it was in the process of sanitising the dera headquarters. Justice Surya Kant said a lot of credit must be given to the central forces in controlling the situation.
Meanwhile, Mahajan informed the court that 1,039 people have been arrested and 63 FIRs registered, 103 dera centres sanitised so far.
‘DERA HEAD VEHICLES NOT SCANNED FOR WEAPONS’
The bench asked the Haryana AG as to who gave permission to Ram Rahim to come in a cavalcade of 200 cars, to which the AG said only two vehicles were permitted inside the court at Panchkula.
However, the AG admitted that the dera head’s vehicles were not scanned for weapons etc.