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People Are Opening Up Homes And Offering Help To Ones Affected By Panchkula-Sirsa Violence

byRachna Srivastava
26th August 2017
2 minute read
Panchkula-Sirsa-Ram-Rahim-Verdict-Violence

It was a dark day on Friday when the districts of Panchkula, Sirsa and adjoining areas faced the brunt of the Dera Sacha Sauda followers, following the conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the rape cases of Sadhvis.

The followers had gathered around Panchkula CBI court to put pressure on the government to rule in Ram Rahim’s favour. But around 3 p.m. yesterday, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted and the mob went on a rampage.

 

After the verdict, there were reported cases of vandalism, violence, unrest, and arson which took the lives of around 30 people.

Cable and mobile internet services in parts of Haryana and Punjab have been suspended and there’s curfew in places too. But, broadband is reported to be working.

 

A Times of India report reads,

“While 28 people died in Panchkula, three were shot dead in Sirsa, where the dera headquarters is located. Doctors at government hospitals in Panchkula and Chandigarh said the death toll could rise as many of the injured are in a serious condition.

Dera followers went on the rampage in Punjab’s Malwa region as well after the conviction. Curfew was imposed in Patiala, Sangrur, Bathinda, Mansa, Faridkot, Fazilka and Ferozepur districts in Malwa where the dera has huge following. The followers targeted government service centres in many villages of Bathinda.

A railway station near Bathinda was torched by angry followers as violence spread across Punjab. Dera followers also threw petrol bombs at the grid sub-station causing some damage.”

 

Amid the curfew and the unrest, there are some good souls who are opening their doors to the people in need.

 

They are putting up tweets offering help and shelter.

 

They are asking people to directly contact them over messages on Twitter.

They are even helping people in navigating and communicating over tweets, regarding which routes to take and which to avoid.

 

Peace was restored in Panchkula, but there are some areas where curfew is still in place.

Few districts in Delhi too are under curfew. PM Modi and all major party leaders are requesting people to keep calm and maintain peace.

It is good to see how amid such turmoil, there are people who are kind-hearted and want to help those in need. Let’s hope the unrest settles and no more lives are lost in the Ram Rahim Verdict violence.

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