Mobile Internet Suspended, Buses & Trains Cancelled, Govt Offices Closed: Haryana, Punjab On Edge Ahead Of Ram Rahim Verdict

Punjab and Haryana High court had come down heavily on the Haryana government for its apparent inability to maintain law and order in the state ahead of the CBI court verdict. Photo: AFP

The sexual exploitation case was registered against the Dera chief in 2002 by the CBI on the directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court after anonymous letters were circulated about the alleged sexual exploitation of two 'sadhvis' (female followers) by Gurmeet Ram Rahim. (Photo: AP)

The Punjab and Haryana High Court pulled up the Haryana government for allowing a huge number of Dera Sacha Sauda followers to gather at Panchkula and said that it could take action against the DGP incase the state failed to ensure security. (Photo: AP)

The Punjab government today declared that its offices situated at Chandigarh would remain closed on August 25. (Photo: AP)

Nobody can meet the Dera chief, who has been provided Z- category security in addition to his own private guards, without prior appointment. It is common to find politicians from across the spectrum flocking to the Dera premises. However, no politician comes on record and Gurmeet himself maintains that as sect head he does not indulge in any political activity. He leaves it to the sect's political wing to decide on whom to support. (Photo: AP)

Many trains bound for Punjab and Haryana were cancelled for the next four days, schools and colleges shut and thousands of security personnel deployed to ensure that no trouble breaks out after the special CBI court delivers its judgement. AP Photo

More than 15,000 paramilitary personnel have been deployed in Punjab and Haryana ahead of Friday's verdict by a Panchkula court. (Photo: AP)

The police forces are keeping a close watch on social media, particularly WhatsApp groups, Facebook and Twitter, and have asked people not to spread rumours. (Photo: AP)

Thousands of "premis", as Dera followers are referred to, gather from various parts to hear the message delivered by the "Pita ji" (Dera head). The sprawling Sirsa Dera, spread over nearly 1,000 acres, is a township on its own, with schools, sports village, hospital and cinema hall etc.

In Panchkula near Chandigarh, thousands of Dera supporters, including women and elderly, arrived and were camping in parks and open spaces. More 'premis', as the Dera followers are known, were pouring in. (Photo: PTI)

According to a Northern Railway spokesperson, 22 trains to Punjab and 7 to Haryana have been cancelled. The trains would have made 74 trips over the next four days. (Photo: PTI)

Curfew has been imposed in Sirsa, three nearby villages from tonight ahead of verdict in case against Dera Sacha Sauda, PTI said quoting its sources. (Photo: PTI)

For his followers, who gathered in the thousands in Panchkula ahead of a verdict in the case of rape and criminal intimidation, their leader is all this and more. The bejewelled head of the Sirsa headquartered sect, who turned 50 this Independence Day, holds sway over millions in Haryana, Punjab and Rajasthan. (Photo: PTI)

An official spokesperson said that all the offices, boards, corporations, agencies and public sector organisations of the Punjab government will remain closed on Friday. (Photo: PTI)

Mobile Internet services have been suspended for 72 hours in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh, ahead of the court verdict in the sexual exploitation case against the Dera Sacha Sauda sect head on Friday. (Photo: PTI)