Highlights | Dera search ops: Luxury car, computers, hard disks and plastic currency seized; Ram Rahim’s Twitter account suspended
The authorities seized a few computers and hard discs, one Toyota Lexus luxury SUV and some currency notes (both old and new) during the search operation on Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters
Security agencies and district authorities began search operations at the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters near Haryana’s Sirsa town on Friday morning amid tight security and curfew in the area. The media was stopped at some distance from the Dera premises to avoid any controversy. The sanitisation drive was being conducted under the supervision of court commissioner AKS Pawar appointed by the Punjab and Haryana high court.
Here are the highlights:
6: 18 pm: Lexus car recovered from Dera Sirsa headquarter has been brought to police station Sirsa by police: ANI
5: 46 pm: Five people have been found, including two minors. Have recovered one walkie-talkie: Deputy director Satish Mehra on Dera HQ search.
5: 42 pm: Forensic team from Roorkee has entered Dera Sirsa headquarter: Deputy director of the Haryana Public Relations department Satish Mehra
5: 10 pm: A luxury car without a registration plate and old currency notes were seized from the headquarters here of the Sacha Sauda Dera, an official said.
4.40pm: Twitter accounts of Dera Sacha Sauda and Gurmeet Ram Rahim have been suspended.
4.30pm: Dera Sacha Sauda chairperson Vipassana Insan appealed all the followers to maintain peace and assist in the search ops.
4pm: I donated money to Dera Sacha Sauda and not to Gurmeet Ram Rahim: Haryana minister Anil Vij tells ANI.
3.45pm: Two weeks after the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, the Haryana government sought the cancellation of FIRs against comedian Kiku Sharda for hurting religious sentiments by mimicking him.
3.20pm: Curfew remains enforced on the road leading to the Dera headquarters. No unauthorised person was being allowed to go inside Dera premises.
As many as 16 ‘nakas’ (checkpoints) have been set up near the dera.
3pm: Hours before authorities started the search operation, the sect’s mouthpiece “Sach Kahoon” had admitted that human remains were buried inside the premises.
2:10 pm: Pharmacy medicines without label, OB van, Lexus car without number found inside the dera, says deputy director Satish Mehra
2:08 pm: Plastic currency recovered by the search team during sanitisation process.
These currency tokens, which are given in exchange of money, were used to purchase commodities inside the Dera.
According to the people, these plastic currencies had been operating inside the Dera for quite a long time.
1: 42 pm: Deputy director, PRO, Haryana government says a computer, hard disks and cash have been recovered, adding that a forensic team has been called from Roorke.
12:12 am: Mobile internet, SMS services suspended in Sirsa until Sept 10
The Haryana government has suspended mobile internet services (2G, 3G, 4G) GPRS, all SMS services and dongle services in the Sirsa district in view of the “critical situation” to curb the spread of rumours in Sirsa district in view of the ongoing sanitisation drive. The suspension will continue till September 10.
11:36 am: Deputy director Satish Mehra (information) says, “Operation going on peacefully. Some cash recovered. Amount yet to be known.”
11:26 am: “Cash seized.Forensic team has been called from Roorkee,” says deputy director Satish Mehra
11:17 am: Deputy director (information) Satish Mehra says some computers, hard disks seized from the dera. Adds a few rooms have been sealed by the search operation team.
10:38 am: Curfew imposed in vicinity of Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters as search inside the premises continues
10:12 am: JCB machine moving towards Dera headquarters.
9:42 am: IGP Hisar Range Amitabh Singh Dhillon reaches Shah Satnam Singh Chowk in Sirsa.
9:25 am: “Situation normal,” says deputy director (information & PR department)
9:14 am:The paramilitary forces and administration reached the Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters at around 7.55am on Friday. The team, led by IGP Hisar Range Amitabh Singh Dhillon, includes six IPS officers and 12 DSP and paramilitary jawans.
9:04 am: JCB machines enter Dera Sacha Sauda headquarters in Sirsa.
8:48 am: Dera chairperson Vipassana Insan appeals followers to maintain peace and calm.
8:42 am: All roads leading to the headquarters from Sirsa and nearby places sealed.
8:40 am: The search, which is being videographed, is being conducted under the supervision of court commissioner AKS Pawar appointed by the Punjab and Haryana high court.