After the Dera Sacha Sauda followers went on a rampage in various parts of the country, the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the attachment of all the properties owned by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, reported multiple TV channels. As per CNN-News 18, the order was passed by the High Court to compensate for the loss of property and destruction caused by his supporters in the states. This announcement came minutes after the violence spread to other parts of North India killing as many as 12 people, as last reported by PTI.

Within two hours of his conviction by a CBI court, the violence had left a trail of burnt vehicles, buildings and railway stations in Punjab and Haryana. Hospitals were overwhelmed with the stream of injured people being brought in – at last count it was 200. 12 deaths were confirmed by Vivek Bhadu, the chief medical officer of the Civil Hospital in Panchkula, a suburb of Chandigarh where Ram Rahim was earlier pronounced guilty.


It was reported that even journalists and police personnel got injured in the incident. A reporter of CNN News 18 TV said a steady stream of ambulances was bringing scores of injured people to the hospital, soaked in blood. He described the scene as “war zone.” It was not clear if the injuries were due to police action or violence by Dera followers, which included a large number of women.

The Dera chief Ram Rahim was accused in 2002 of sexually exploiting two female followers. Earlier in the day, he was found guilty in the case and the sentencing will take place on Monday. He faces jail time of seven years to life imprisonment.

The situation in the wake of the verdict was worsening in parts of Punjab, mainly in Malwa region, the stronghold of Dera Sacha Sauda. At least three OB vans of private television channels were damaged. Two vans were overturned by a mob, reported PTI.