The situation remains tense after the sect's followers unleashed violence on Friday after the court's verdict.
The death toll in the violence that erupted in Haryana after the rape conviction of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh has climbed to 31 and the situation "is tense but under control", the Union Home Ministry said on Saturday.
"28 deaths in Panchkula- 24 men, 3 women and a child. Three deaths have been reported from Sirsa," Haryana Chief Secretary Depinder Singh said.
Violence erupted in Panchkula yesterday after a CBI court convicted Ram Rahim in a 15-year-old case.
Also Read: Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh: The 'Godman' who thrived on controversy
15 years on, scribe's son awaits justice for father who exposed Dera chief
FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES:
19:30
Haryana DGP BS Sandhu addressed a press conference taking stock of the situation. He said that: “No incident reported in last 24 hours, no trouble in the state. There is absolute peace. There are about 3000-4000 people at Dera Sacha Sauda, Sirsa and they are vacating gradually. 30 died in Punchkula, 6 in Sirsa, 269 injured.”
18:44
Meanwhile, the situation in Sirsa remains tense. The Army carried out a flag march outside the Dera’s Sirsa headquarters and asked followers to come out.
18:25
Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) B S Sandhu on Saturday apprised that Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, who has been convicted by a special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court, could receive the punishment through video conferencing.
Addressing the press conference, Sandhu said,"Our efforts remain to make judgement possible through video-conferencing, if the court says, then everything will take place in the jail."
17: 53
It looks like the state government is not taking chances. The godman's sentencing will take place in District jail, Sunaria.
17:10
In a startling case of VVIP treatment, Deputy AG of Haryana was seen carrying Gurmeet Ram Rahi Singh Insaan's suitcase. He is allegedly related to the Dera Sauda chief.
The Deputy AG of Haryana has been sacked for reportedly carrying Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Insaan's suitcase. Baldev Mahajan, the Attorney General confirmed to CNN-News18 that he had been sacked.
16:43
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh says 'there were no deaths here', everything was peaceful.
16:26
Chief Medical Officer, Panchkula, briefs media about injured people admitted to government hospital
16:21
Punjab Chief Minister take stock of situation after Dera violence.
'16:00 pm
Haryana government orders search of all Dera centres in the state. Read more here
'15:45 pm
'15:30 pm
There are also reports of weapons being recovered from the deras.
'15:15 pm
Senior Army official says no plan so far to enter Dera headquarters in Sirsa, maintenance of law and order top priority.
"There is still no order for the Army to enter the campus. They are only ensuring enforcement of curfew in the area," Sirsa sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Paramjit Singh Chahal said.
'15:10 pm
And the heads have begun to roll. Haryana govt has suspended the Panchkula DCP. An official order today said that IPS officer Ashok Kumar, DCP Panchkula, has been put under suspension with immediate effect.
"Yes there was a lapse and that why we have suspended DCP Panchkula," Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas said, adding that the prohibitory order issued by the officer only barred carrying of weapons and not a gathering of five or more persons.
'15:00 pm
Meanwhile, the chorus for the Haryana CM's removal is getting louder. The Congress has demanded that CM Khattar should resign.
BSP president Mayawati today demanded immediate dismissal of the Khattar government over the violence in Haryana, saying such "shameful surrender" to votebank politics needed to be condemned.
'14:45 pm
Details of the death toll: 31 dead. "28 deaths in Panchkula-24 men, 3 women and a child. Three deaths have been reported from Sirsa," said Haryana Chief Secretary Depinder Singh. Police is in the process of identifying those killed, he added.
'14:20 pm
Meanwhile, Anil Jain, Haryana BJP Incharge said, "People who died were Dera supporters. 36 Dera ashrams have been sealed and Dera at Sirsa is being vacated."
He also denied reports of CM ML Khattar being summoned to Delhi.
"Two sedition cases have been registered during the entire process, probe underway," says Haryana Chief Secretary Depinder Singh. He added that no VIP treatment was given to Ram Rahim Singh and he was taken through a helicopter purely on security considerations. "Helicopter was arranged by the Haryana government.The moment Ram Rahim Singh was arrested, his Z-plus security stood automatically withdrawn. Ram Rahim Singh is being treated and given food in the same manner as other prisoners," he said.
'13:30 pm
Watch the press conference of Haryana govt and police here:
'13:00 pm
Gurmeet Ram Rahim case: How an anonymous letter changed address of Dera chief. Read all the details here
'12:45 pm
Meanwhile, here's a glimpse from Friday of Dera Sacha Sauda Chief Ram Rahim Singh after being held guilty in sexual exploitation case by Special CBI court on Friday.
'12:30 pm
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has slammed the Khattar govt of failing to contain the situation after the verdict on Friday, media reports said. "You allowed the city to burn for political gains. It seems the government has surrendered to the agitators," the HC said.
'12:15 pm
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has tweeted that the situation in the state is "peaceful" and curfew has been lifted.
'12:10 pm
Watch: Army, Police and Rapid Action Force enter the premises of Dera Sacha Sauda in Haryana's Sirsa.
'12:05 pm
High level meeting at Home Minister Rajnath Singh's residence has begun. Home Secretary, National Security Agency (NSA) and Information Bureau Chief Rajiv Jain are also present at the meeting.
'12:00 pm
Army conducts flag march in Punjab's Mansa
'11:10 am
Provide 'high-level security' to judge who convicted Dera chief Ram Rahim: Centre tells Haryana govt
Read more here.
'11:00 am
Punjab and Haryana High Court to take up the PIL filed two days ago regarding police arrangements in Panchkula.
'10:55 am
District administration and police seal two ashrams of Dera Sacha Sauda in Haryana's Kurukshetra.
'10:50 am
445 trains have been cancelled. The Railways said this was the accumulative figure for cancelled trains on six days, from August 23 till August 28. Read more here
'10:30 am
Police have detained 15 Dera Sacha Sauda followers since last night here even as the authorities have appealed to over one lakh supporters still present in the sect headquarters to vacate the premises. Read more here
'10:00 am
'09:45 am
KP Singh, DG Prisons (Haryana) has said that reports of special treatment to Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh were not true. "I clarify he is in Sunaria Jail, not in a guesthouse, he said. Read more here
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