10 army columns deployed in parts of Haryana, Punjab

A total of 10 army columns were deployed in different parts of Haryana and Punjab as violence erupted in the two states after Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmit Ram Rahim was convicted in a rape case on Friday, army sources said.

The sources said six army columns were deployed in Haryana's Panchkula where violence started soon after the verdict, and two columns were deployed in Sirsa, which is the headquarters of the sect.

A column each of Army was deployed in Mansa and Muktsar of Punjab, both major centres of the sect.

Around 30 people were killed in violence that started after a verdict by a CBI special court convicting the controversial godman of rape and sexual exploitation. - IANS