Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani tonight condemned the attacks on media during violence in Panchkula but at the same time advised news channels to refrain from "causing panic, distress and undue fear".

With violence being reported from various north Indian states following conviction of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in a rape case, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take immediate action to ensure safety of the life and property of all citizens. 

After five people were reportedly killed in the violence that broke out post the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim, Haryana Chief Minister finally broke his silence, saying tough action would be taken against the assailants. 

The National Capital has been put on high alert after Ram Rahim Singh supporters resort to violence. Alert sounded in Bhatinda in Punjab too.

The National Capital has been put on high alert after Ram Rahim Singh supporters resort to violence. Alert sounded in Bhatinda in Punjab too.

Shortly after the Special CBI court found Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim guilty of rape, violence has broken outside the court premises. Reports state that supporters have attacked media and the law enforcement agencies are firing tear gas shells to control the situation. 

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh to be taken into preventive custody by the army. He will be kept in judicial custody till August 28 where the CBI court will declare the quantum of sentence in the rape case. 

As the Dera Sacha Sauda chief  Ram Rahim Singh has arrived in court, reports are coming in that if the verdict goes against the controversial godman, then the court may keep the ruling a 'secret' for an hour or so to counter any violent reaction and make sure that the sect chief can get safe passage out of Panchkula.

The Supreme Court on Friday said that the Right to Privacy judgment will have "some bearing" in matters related to possession of beef in Maharashtra. 

Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh's convoy on way to Panchkula from Sirsa to be present in a CBI court during pronouncement of the verdict on a rape case against him.

Dera followers cried and tried to block his convoy in Sirsa.

He was to leave Sirsa earlier on a chopper but later the plan was revised and he is travelling on road, with hundreds of cars in his convoy. -- ANI

Despite Dera head Gurmeet Ram Rahim making an appeal to his followers to leave Panchkula, many of them have refused to relent and kept sitting along side roads and parks there.

Since mobile internet and data services have been suspended in Haryana, Punjab and Chandigarh, Dera followers complained of being unable to see the video clip of the sect head making an appeal to return to their homes.

Security forces were faced with a tough situation as many Dera followers remained reluctant to move, saying they had come to the town on their own and would move only after having sect head's 'darshan'.

IMAGE: Followers of Dera chief sitting on a pavement in Panchkula. Photograph: PTI Photo

Former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said on Thursday that a court has no power to engraft more Fundamental Rights in the Constitution as the right to make a law or amend it belongs to the Parliament.

Reacting to the Supreme Court verdict declaring right to privacy a fundamental right, the senior advocate said 'there is much a do about nothing' as the government had already agreed with the stand taken by the petitioners and the court.

"The Fundamental Rights are engrafted in the Constitution so they have to be physically put in a book called the Constitution.

"The right belongs to the Parliament, to make the law, amend the law, repeal the law. The court has no power to engraft more Fundamental Rights in the Constitution," Rohatgi, who had argued in the matter as the then attorney general, said.

"I still maintain there is much ado about nothing for the simple reason that I do hear that government has stated that they agree that privacy is a Fundamental Right," he said.

Rohatgi, while speaking to a TV channel, also said there are two spheres -- judiciary and Parliament -- and both cannot overlap each other.

"There is no amendment in the Constitution by a court as you have two different spheres. The sphere of the judiciary and the sphere of the Parliament. Both the spheres cannot overlap," he said.  -- PTI

The Army was called out in Sirsa today, ahead of a court verdict in a rape case against Dera Sacha Sauda head Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, even as security was tightened, with senior police personnel carrying out a flag march outside the the sect headquarters in the district.

The move comes hours before the verdict by a Central Bureau of Investigation court in Panchkula where the sect chief will appear in connection with the case today.

Army columns also arrived in Panchkula past midnight as scores of Dera followers gathered in the town ahead of the verdict.

"Two companies of Army from Hisar district have been called out to maintain law and order in Sirsa," a top police officer said.

"Police carried out flag march outside Dera headquarters, led by top officials. Security has been beefed up to maintain law and order in the district," he added.

A Dera spokesperson had yesterday claimed that around five lakh followers have arrived in the sect headquarters in Sirsa.

Fearing trouble, especially if the verdict goes against the controversial Dera chief, thousands of jawans, including 15,000 paramilitary troops, have been deployed in sensitive areas across Punjab and Haryana.

The Haryana Police assisted by central forces were involved in an operation to flush out scores of Dera followers even as the sect head made a video appeal to his followers to go back home.

The Chandigarh Police, meanwhile, warned Dera Sacha Sauda followers of stern action if they try to enter the Union Territory.

"No Dera follower will be allowed to enter Chandigarh," the police said in a statement.

"If they (Dera followers) try to enter Chandigarh, stern action will be taken as per the law," officials said. -- PTI

Photograph: PTI Photo

Charleston update:

Mayor John Tecklenburg said an angry employee shot one person and was holding 'a couple' of others hostage at a crowded restaurant during lunchtime in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.

Hostage negotiators were trying to talk to the man inside Virginia's, Tecklenburg said.

The restaurant is located on usually crowded King Street, a line of shops and nice dining that caters to both tourists and residents in South Carolina's largest and most historic city.

"This is not an act of terrorism. This is not a hate crime. It is a disgruntled employee," Tecklenburg said.

Police spokesman Charles Francis said that the employee was holding a 'couple' of hostages.

He did not give any details on the condition of the victims. -- Agencies

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