Followers Scattered Relatives’ Ashes in Sirsa HQ: Dera Official
Earlier this week, Dera Sacha Sauda’s IT head Vineet was arrested in Sirsa.
As the crackdown on Dera Sacha Sauda continues, Haryana police have arrested the cult’s IT head, Vineet, Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s close aide Dilawar Singh, Honeypreet Insan’s driver, and now Prakash Insan, another aide of Ram Rahim.
However, Honeypreet is still missing.
Earlier, security agencies and state government authorities ‘sanitised’ the Dera headquarters in Sirsa for three days. Dera chief Ram Rahim was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in jail by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 25 August, on charges of raping two women.
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- FIR filed against Honeypreet Isan for allegedly inciting violence
- Another close aide of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, Prakash Insan, arrested by the SIT
- Earlier, Dera’s IT head Vineet, Ram Rahim’s close aide Dilawar Singh and Honeypreet’s driver were arrested
- Haryana police launched a massive crackdown on Dera, including three-day-long search operation
- Computers, hard disks and cash were seized during the search operation
- On 25 August, the controversial self-styled godman was sentenced to 20 years in prison for raping two women
"Followers Scattered Relatives' Ashes Inside Dera"
Reports said Gurmeet Singh’s aide told the SIT about a mass grave at Dera Sacha Sauda’s headquarters in Sirsa and that around 600 skeletons may be buried inside it.
On media reports suggesting skeletons used to be buried in Dera premises, DSP Kuldeep Singh Beniwal said, “No such fact has come to our notice”.
The SIT of Haryana Police on Tuesday evening questioned Dera Sacha Sauda Management Committee senior vice president PR Nain for two-and-a-half hours at Sirsa.
He told the team that around 300-400 followers of Dera Sacha Sauda had over the years scattered ashes of their relatives after their cremation inside the sect headquarters as part of “rituals”.
SIT Grills Dera Chief's Daughter Vipassana Insan
Dera chief Gurmeet Singh’s daughter Vipassana Insan was on Tuesday quizzed by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by Sirsa police for over three hours, said a Hindustan Times report.
Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Dabwali, Kuldeep Beniwal, who is heading the SIT team, told HT that post Gurmeet Singh’s conviction, Honeypreet Insan visited the Dera on 25 August.
Vipassana told the team that since then she’s not been in touch with Honeypreet and neither has any details of other Dera staffers who are currently hiding after violence in Panchkula.
FIR Filed Against Honeypreet as Search Ops Continue
Jailed Dera Sacha Sauda chief's adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan has been booked for allegedly inciting violence following the conviction of Gurmeet Singh, the Haryana Police said on Tuesday.
Honeypreet has been booked at Sector 5 police station in Panchkula.
The police added her name in FIR number 345 as an accused in connection with the violence that took place in Panchkula on 25 August.
Her name has been included in the same FIR in which other Dera functionaries Aditya Insan and Surinder Dhiman, among others, had been booked for allegedly inciting violence and arson, police said.
“Our efforts are on to nab her (Honeypreet),” Haryana DGP B S Sandhu said.
Haryana Police Releases 'Wanted' List
Haryana Police on Monday released a list of 43 people wanted over violence post Dera chief Gurmeet Singh’s conviction. His ‘adopted’ daughter Honeypreet Insan and Dera Sacha Sauda spokesperson Aditya Insan top the list.
On their official website, Haryana Police provided two mobile numbers — 8146630005, 8146630031, and a WhatsApp number — 8146630011, asking people to inform them about the whereabouts of the 43 people.
Speaking to ANI, the DGP of Haryana BS Sandhu said:
Ram Rahim's Aide Prakash Insan Arrested
The SIT arrested Prakash Insan, yet another aide of Ram Rahim, from Mohali on 17 September. According to Tribune, Prakash Insan is the brother-in-law of Dera spokesperson Aditya Insan, who is missing along with Honeypreet Insan.
The Haryana police has issued a lookout notice against the absconding duo.
Honeypreet's Driver Arrested
The police arrested Pradeep Kumar the driver of Honeypreet, the adopted daughter of Ram Rahim, on Friday. He was arrested by a team of the Haryana Police from a location near the religious town of Salasar in Rajasthan.
The sources said that the arrest could help the police to know the whereabouts of Honeypreet, whose real name is Priyanka Taneja and has been absconding since 25 August evening.
Haryana Govt Puts on Hold Rs 51 Lakh for Dera, Cops Hope to Gather Vital Clues
The Haryana government today said it has put on hold Rs 51 lakh announced for the Dera Sacha Sauda in the wake of Gurmeet Ram Rahim’s conviction, while the police hoped it would gather vital leads after questioning an arrested Dera functionary.
In a statement, Education Minister Ram Bilas Sharma said Rs 51 lakh out of his discretionary funds quota to 'Khel Gaon' of Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa, stood withdrawn, keeping in view the verdict delivered by a CBI court convicting Ram Rahim Singh on 25 August in the rape cases.
The minister had announced the amount on 16 August during his visit to the Dera headquarters for the sect head's week-long birthday celebrations.
Ram Rahim's Close Aide Arrested
Dilawar Singh, a close aide of Ram Rahim, was arrested on Thursday by police from Sonipat in Haryana. A day after, on Friday, he was sent to 7-day police custody.
Dera's IT Head Arrested
Haryana Police on Wednesday arrested Dera Sacha Sauda’s IT head Vineet from Sirsa. CNN-New18 reported that he has been accused of destroying evidence.
Following Vineet’s arrest, Haryana Police have seized 60 Hard Disks from him.
Honeypreet Might Be in Nepal
Gurmeet Ram Rahim's adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan, against whom a lookout notice has been issued, is still reported missing.
3-Day Search Operation Concludes at Dera HQ in Sirsa
Three-day-long search operation at Dera’s headquarters in Sirsa concluded on Sunday, confirmed Deputy Director of Haryana PR Department Satish Mehra.
The search was conducted under the supervision of AKS Pawar appointed by the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Amongst those deployed for the search include forty-one paramilitary companies, four Army columns, cops from as many districts, a SWAT team, and a dog squad reported India Today.
He added that:
Haryana Railways also confirmed that train services along the Hisar-Bhatinda route were restored with immediate effect after receiving security clearance from authorities.
Heavy Security Continues
There is heavy security at the Satnam Chowk in Sirsa as the search operations at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarter continues.
Illegal Explosives Factory Found Inside Dera HQ
An illegal explosives factory found inside the Dera Sacha Sauda premises has been sealed. The explosives and firecrackers have been seized, Deputy Director of Haryana PR Department Satish Mehra said.
Three Arrested for Conspiracy
The Haryana Police, on 9 September, arrested three Dera Sacha Sauda followers for hatching a conspiracy of trying to help Ram Rahim escape from Panchkula during the agitation.
Did Dera Send 14 Bodies to Lucknow Medical College?
Taking cognisance of a media report, Haryana Health Minister Anil Vij on Friday, ordered an inquiry to ascertain if the Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda had sent 14 bodies to a medical college in Lucknow earlier this year in violation of rules.
He has asked the Director General of Health Services to complete the inquiry at the earliest.
“There have been reports in the media that about 14 bodies being sent from the Dera to a medical college in Lucknow. If this was done, all formalities should have been completed. The reason for sending the bodies must also be ascertained,” Vij said.
Here's What Has Been Recovered From the Premises
In a mammoth search operation being carried out by security forces and district authorities, some rooms were also sealed and hard disk drives and unlabelled medicines recovered, Haryana's information and public relations deputy director, Satish Mehra, who has been authorised by the administration to speak to the media, said.
“Some rooms have been sealed, computer hard disk drives, unregistered Lexus car, an OB van, Rs 7,000 of demonetised currency, Rs 12,000 cash and some pharma medicines without labels or a brand name are among other items which have been seized,” he said.
Forensic Team Enters Dera Headquarters
A forensic team from Roorkee entered the Dera Sirsa headquarters on Friday evening, Deputy Director of the Haryana Public Relations Department, Satish Mehra, said. “Five people have been found, including two minors. Have recovered one walkie-talkie,” he said after investigating the premises.
Ram Rahim to Continue as Dera Head
Talking to ABP news, Dera Sacha Sauda chairperson Vipassana Insan said that rape convict godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim will continue to head the cult..
Chairperson of Dera Sacha Sauda Appeals for Peace
As security agencies and state government authorities launched a search operation at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa on Friday, chairperson of Dera Sacha Sauda, Vipassana Insan, appealed to followers to maintain peace.
Police Recover Rs 7,000 Worth Demonetised Notes
Police recovered Rs 7,000 worth of demonetised notes from the Dera Sacha Sauda premises, Firstpost reported on Friday.
Donated Money to Dera, Not Baba: Haryana Min
Haryana minister Anil Vij, who had courted controversy after donating Rs 50 lakh to the Dera Sacha Sauda in 2016, told ANI:
Meds Without Labels, Lexus Car With No Number Plate Found
As the sanitisation operation continues at the Dera, Deputy Director (Information and PR Department) Satish Mehra said that pharmacy medicines without labels, an OB van and a Lexus car without a number plate have been found.
Mobile Internet, SMS Lines Suspended in Sirsa
Mobile internet services have been suspended with immediate effect in Sirsa district to prevent any disturbance of public order and to curb the spread of rumours in view of the sanitisation exercise being carried out at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters.
Internet on mobile including 2G, 3G, 4G, CDMA and GPRS, all SMS lines and all dongle services provided on mobile networks, except voice calls, in Sirsa district shall remain suspended till 23:59 hrs of 10 September, the order issued by the Haryana government's Home Department said.
Plastic Currency With 'Dera' Initials Found Near HQ Markets
Plastic currency has been found in markets near the Dera headquarters in Sirsa with ‘Dera Sacha Sauda - Sirsa’ inscribed on them.
'Few Rooms Sealed, Forensic Team Summoned'
With search operation underway at the Dera premises, Deputy Director (Information and PR Department) Satish Mehra told reporters that “some computers, hard disks and cash have been seized.” He added that few rooms were also sealed and a forensic team has been called in from Roorkee.
10 Locksmiths Called In
An earthmover and 10 blacksmiths were called in to assist the search operation, which is currently underway at the Dera Sacha Sauda’s headquarters in Sirca.
Deputy Director (Information and PR Department) Satish Mehra told ANI: “Court Commissioner AKS Pawar has reached the Dera premises for the search operation. The situation is normal.”
'Skeletons' Inside Premises, Admits Dera Mouthpiece
A day before the search operation at the Dera, the sect’s mouthpiece, Sach Kahoon, admitted that human remains were buried inside the premises.
Some followers who are no longer a part of the sect have alleged that Ram Rahim got those who opposed him murdered and buried them inside the campus.
In another report, the Dera newspaper spoke about human organ trafficking and how organs were voluntarily donated to the sect. However, these organs are given to medical colleges for anatomical research after following legal procedure.
Dera Has Always Followed the Law: Spokesperson
Dera Sacha Sauda spokesperson Vipassana Insan, on 8 September, appealed to the Dera followers to maintain peace during the search operation. “The Dera has always followed the law,” she said.
Curfew Not to Be Relaxed Till Operation Is Over
A curfew has been imposed in areas surrounding the Dera headquarters in Sirsa, and it would not be relaxed till the search operation ends, reported ANI.
As many as 16 ‘nakas’ (check points) have been set up near the Dera. A total of 41 companies of paramilitary forces and four army columns have also been deployed in the district.
Personnel from the anti-bomb disposal squad, 40 commandos of the Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) team and dog squad will also be stationed.
Aerial surveillance is also likely to be maintained when the sanitisation takes place, officials had said earlier.
Dera HQ Under Tight Scrutiny
Following the conviction of controversial Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in two rape cases last month, the “sanitisation” of the sprawling sect headquarters will begin at Sirsa on 9 September involving a coordinated effort by security forces and various government departments.
The entire sanitisation process will be videographed and overseen by retired District and Sessions Judge AKS Pawar, who was appointed as Court Commissioner by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 5 September.
The premises of the Dera is spread over 700 acres and houses educational institutes, markets, hospital, stadium, and recreational areas.
Dera to Cooperate in Search Process
Dera Spokesperson Vipassana Insan told ANI that the Dera will cooperate with the administration in the search process.
Large-scale violence broke out in Panchkula after Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was sentenced to 20 years in prison after his conviction. The incident killed around 35 people, while six others died in Sirsa.
(With inputs from PTI, IANS and ANI)
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