by Peerzada Arshad Hamid
NEW DELHI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Authorities in India Wednesday deployed thousands of police and paramilitary troops in Punjab and Haryana states ahead of a court verdict in a rape case against self-styled spiritual leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, officials said.
The court is scheduled to deliver verdict on Friday at Panchkula district near Chandigarh, the capital city of both Punjab and Haryana.
The 50-year-old Singh heads a religious sect glocally called Dera Sacha Sauda. The sect claims to be a "social welfare and spiritual organization."
Singh, the flamboyant and controversial chief, claims to have 50 million followers and runs a spiritual group.
The court has sought Singh's personal appearance for Friday's verdict.
Singh faces charges that in 2002 he sexually assaulted two of his women followers. Singh has denied the charges against him.
Ahead of the court verdict thousands of Singh's followers are travelling to Panchkula town, where the case is being heard. Most of them have occupied parks, roads and sidewalks in the city.
The Punjab director general of police has issued an advisory to all senior police officers warning them that Dera followers are storing fuel and objects that can be used as weapons.
Police in Haryana too have sounded an alert.
"The centre has assured us more troops if required. From Sirsa to Panchkula, the Haryana police is fully alert," local media quoted Haryana police chief BS Sandhu as having said.
"Sensitive areas have been identified in Hisar, Fatehabad, Jind, Hansi, Kaithal and Kurukshetra and police in these districts have been directed to be vigilant."
The chief ministers of Haryana and Punjab have appealed for peace.
"Two control rooms have been set up to monitor the situation. Besides this, multiple security teams from Rapid Action Force, the Central Reserve Police Force and police have been stationed outside the CBI court complex in Panchkula and its adjoining roads," an official said.
Reports said police is keeping an eye on social media and is likely to snap internet services to prevent "rumor mongering."
