High Alert In Haryana And Punjab Ahead Of Dera Sachcha Sauda Chief Case Verdict

MOHALI, INDIA - AUGUST 24: Baseball bats, hockey sticks and iron rods recovered by cops during checking the vehicles at a naka at intersection of Airport road and Patiala road on August 24, 2017 in Mohali, India. The godman was charged with rape of a female devotee in 1999. The CBI took over the investigation in 2002. On 17 August, the special CBI court of Panchkula concluded hearing in the case but reserved pronouncing the verdict for 25 August. Police expect that an adverse verdict could trigger violence at several locations such as Panchkula, Chandigarh, Sirsa and Fatehabad, where the self-proclaimed godman's followers have gathered in large numbers over the last two days impending verdict in a rape case against him. Anticipating the worst, an indictment of the Dera chief, both sides the police and the devotees are preparing for a confrontation. Busses and trains have been cancelled while intenet services were suspended for 72 hours. (Photo by Sikander Singh/Hindustan Times via Getty Images)