Security beefed up for Dera Chief's court appearance

Ambala, Oct 26 (UNI) Security arrangements have been beefed up in view of the scheduled appearance of the Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in the special CBI court here tomorrow.

The Dera Chief is facing trial in two cases of murder and one of rape of a Dera sadhvi which are pending in the special CBI courts and are likely to be committed to the Sessions Court tomorrow.

The Dera chief will be present personally in all the three cases.

Though the Dera Chief was granted regular bail in all the cases by the special CBI Judge R K Saini yesterday, yet the police were not taking any chances regarding security arrangements because a large number of Dera followers were expected to reach here to felicitate their Guru after he s granted bail.

The Dera Chief had left Sirsa for Ambala this evening and was expected to arrive here tonight.

Security has been tightened where the Baba was expected to stay during the night.

A large number of his devotees have already arrived here and are camping at the HUDA grounds in Ambala city. The number is likely to increase by mid-night, according to a Dera spokesman here.

The Superintendent of Police K V Ramanna said that a large number of polite personnel had been posted around the court complex.

All routes leading to the court have been sealed and no one except the residents of nearby localities were allowed to enter the area.

He also convened a meeting of the senior officials to review the security arrangements made by the Police.

Extra force had been requisitioned and deployed at all sensitive points, he said stressing that it would be ensured that no anti- social element entered to area to create any problem.

Meanwhile, the Rapid Action Force, which arrived here two days ago, continued the provide security cover wherever it was required, he said.

UNI