'Who is responsible for this,' angry Panchkula demands answers after Dera violence

Panchkula is limping back to normalcy a day after unprecedented violence engulfed the planned city and changed everything.

Though there is an uneasy calm on the streets, the residents of this beautiful city overlooking Shivalik hills are asking some tough questions.

A resident of Sector 4, who refused to be named, told DNA how mob torched his car parked right outside his house.

“Why didn't they call Army earlier? Why did they wait till 11th hour,” he asked questioning the way the Panchkula administration reacted to the violence that erupted soon after the CBI Court convicted Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case.

Most of the residents, who had virtually locked themselves in their houses on Friday, called the Dera violence a nightmare.

Many question how despite orders, thousands of Dera supporters swarmed Panchkula and brought the city to its knees.

"We were held like captives inside our homes because of the situation, which in the first place could have been avoided. Our children are still in a state of fear, they are scared to come out now. Who is responsible for this," a senior citizen of the city asked.

While administration maintains situation is under control, residents are worried about what will happen on Monday when the Court announces quantum of punishment after the verdict.

Though the police has removed all the torched vehicles, the burnt down buildings are stark reminder of system's utter failure in Panchkula.

(With inputs from PTI)