Riots leave 29 dead after Indian 'godman's' rape conviction

Twenty-nine people have died in riots by followers of
an Indian guru after he was found guilty of raping two
women.
Rampaging supporters of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh
set fire to government buildings, vehicles and railway
stations.
They also attacked garages, TV trucks, police and
journalists in towns across India's northern states of
Punjab and Haryana.
More than 100 people were injured in the mob
violence, with reports of more than half being in a
critical condition in hospital.
Around 1,000 of Singh's followers have been detained
while almost 250 trains passing through the area
have been cancelled.
Violent mobs set fire to vehicles following the
guru's conviction
The clashes followed Singh's conviction on Friday for
abusing two female followers at the headquarters of
his Dera Sacha Sauda (DSS) sect in a case dating
back to 2002.
The quasi-religious sect, of which Singh is the leader,
is described as a social welfare and spiritual
organisation.
News satellite trucks were among vehicles
destroyed in protests in Panchkula.
Tens of thousands of Singh's supporters have
gathered outside the courthouse in the town of
Panchkula, Haryana, since Thursday.
More than 15,000 police and paramilitary troops were
deployed in the town, with the army on standby,
while water cannon was used in an attempt to
disperse the crowd.
Dozens of vehicles were burnt down by
supporters of a guru convicted of rape.
Mobile internet services were suspended and curfews
imposed in some parts of Punjab and Haryana, which
are strongholds of DSS, with supporters told to go
home.
Singh, a self-styled "godman" who calls himself Saint
Dr Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan, claims to
have millions of followers.
He faces at least seven years in jail when he is
sentenced on Monday.
Singh had denied the rape charge and called on his
supporters to remain peaceful via a video message.

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