Ram Rahim verdict: How were repeated intelligence warnings missed or ignored

It is not clear how seriously the government took the warnings despite the writing being on the wall.

Intelligence was missing is the the normal defence that is taken following a violent incident or terror strike. However what happened in the aftermath of the Ram Rahim verdict is carelessness on part of the Haryana government.

There was not just intelligence, but specific or Grade A intelligence to suggest that the Dera Sacha followers were coming in large numbers ahead of the verdict. The Director General of Police, Punjab while citing concrete intelligence sent out a letter two days before the verdict that that Dera Sacha Sauda premises had stock of petrol and diesel in drums.

Stones and sharp-edged weapons are being stored at 'Naam Charcha Ghars.' If the court would give a verdict against Gurmeet Ram Rahim, then the devotees can use petrol and weapons to harm, destroy government and public property. Your are hereby directed to deploy sufficient manpower and made adequate law and order arrangements to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to ensure nothing untoward takes place, the letter also states, is what the DPG's letter read.

It could not be more specific than this. The DGP had narrated what would happen two days before the chaos took place following the verdict.

The first signs of failure began when the government allowed the build up of followers. The build up had started to take place a week before the verdict. Intelligence Bureau officials told OneIndia that the DGP's letter was the latest warning. In fact the Intelligence Bureau has been issuing warnings a week before itself.

It is not clear how seriously the government took the warnings despite the writing being on the wall. The Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had said all security arrangements were in place. He said that the police were capable of controlling the situation and ensuring that things did not go out of hand. That was not to be and the violence that erupted on Friday clearly shows that the state had failed on all counts.

OneIndia News