NEW DELHI The trial of self-styled Indian “godman” Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, who is accused of rape, has triggered a security lockdown in parts of Punjab and Haryana with police closing schools and converting a cricket stadium into a jail in case his followers erupt into violence if he is found guilty.

Thousands of Singh’s supporters have begun assembling close to the court in Punjab, where he is on trial for raping two women in cases that date back to 2002. A verdict is expected on Friday. The case was registered in 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after anonymous letters were circulated about the alleged sexual exploitation of two ‘sadhvis’ (female followers) by Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh.
Fearing riots after a court tomorrow decides if self-styled spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is guilty of rape, the government of Haryana has cut off mobile internet services and asked for the army to be ready to intervene if required.  his followers have gathered on both sides of the road. The police in Panchkula, barely 10 km from Chandigarh, is easily out-numbered, despite claims of elaborate precautions.
It has only itself to blame, said the Punjab and Haryana High Court today. “You enabled this…you allowed large numbers to reach here…now you are whining that you don’t have enough forces,” the court said, faulting the government of Haryana for “already having failed to maintain law and order.” Separately, the court ordered Ram Rahim’s sect – which is called the Dera Sacha Sauda – to order its members to disperse immediately and head home.

Groups of followers who are called “Premis” gathered alongside a major highway were in agreement that “hundreds more of us will come by truck today.” Naresh Kumar Insan arrived from Delhi three days back and is staying on the footpath, such is his devotion.

Clusters of hundreds of premis have already taken position near the courthouse.There is restricted entry now for Panchkula, a small town in Haryana, but as the court pointed out, too little has been done to keep a bad situation from turning far worse. 22 trains have been cancelled, government offices will be closed tomorrow and a stadium each in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Sisra in Haryana, where Ram Rahim is based, have been prepped as makeshift prisons.

On Twitter, Ram Rahim has called for peace while disclosing that he will appear in person in the courthouse tomorrow. That’s likely to throw the crowds into a frenzy.  “If that happens, we will ensure that proceedings happen peacefully and there is absolutely no disruption,” said BS Sandhu, the top police officer in Haryana. “We intend to seal the entire court premises and shall not allow anybody to enter it, or from nearby.”

But clusters of hundreds of premis have already taken position near the courthouse. Sahil Insan, an 18-year-old who travelled by bus from Patiala and then walked 11 km along with his friends, says the whole point of his journey is to get a glimpse of the 50-year-old guru who has starred in two movies called Messenger of God (‘MSG”) and its sequel in which he jiu jitsus the bad guys into the air.

Ram Rahim’s cult of personality includes rhinestone-heavy costumes, some of them in leather, and the odd appearance on a high-end motorbike. He travels largely in a convoy of bullet-proof cars, part of the perks of the Z+ security given to him by the government of Haryana, where his sprawling campus is located in the town of Sirsa. The army has also been asked to prep for providing assistance here.

Groups of followers who are called “Premis” gathered on the side of the highway near the court.
From Sirsa to Panchkula is a five-hour journey by road; many premis we spoke to said their travel was impelled by the need for solidarity at a time when their chief is fighting “fake charges.”

The case, filed in 2002, accuses Ram Rahim of sexually exploiting two women followers at his ashram; he has denied any wrongdoing. Separately, a court has asked the CBI to investigate whether he encouraged 400 men to undergo castration, promising it would benefit them spiritually.

A large prayer centre that doubles up as a major organizational office of the sect, is in total lockdown. Schools and colleges are closed, major roads are being patrolled by the police and buses are being stopped from heading towards Panchkula. Those who have already made it into the town are using the local Ghaggar river to wash; some are cooking on its banks and helping new arrivals to settle in.promising it would benefit them spiritually.

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