Indian guru sentenced to 20 years in prison

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI

Self-proclaimed Indian "godman" Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was sentenced to 20 years in jail Monday for the rape of two of his female followers in 2002. He will serve two 10-year terms consecutively.

According to media reports, the Dera Sacha Sauda chief broke down as he was sentenced by Judge Jagdeep Singh during a court hearing in the city of Rohtak in Haryana State.

Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed and the army was kept on standby to maintain law and order. A curfew was also imposed in some cities of Punjab and Haryana states.

Thirty-eight people lost their lives and over 200 were injured in violence on Friday when 150,000 followers of Ram Rahim gathered in the town of Panchkula, where he was convicted.

Punjab and Haryana had ordered schools and colleges to remain shut, suspended cellphone services and beefed up security ahead of the court proceedings on Monday.

By Shuriah Niazi

NEW DELHI

Self-proclaimed Indian "godman" Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was sentenced to 20 years in jail Monday for the rape of two of his female followers in 2002. He will serve two 10-year terms consecutively.

According to media reports, the Dera Sacha Sauda chief broke down as he was sentenced by Judge Jagdeep Singh during a court hearing in the city of Rohtak in Haryana State.

Thousands of police and paramilitary personnel were deployed and the army was kept on standby to maintain law and order. A curfew was also imposed in some cities of Punjab and Haryana states.

Thirty-eight people lost their lives and over 200 were injured in violence on Friday when 150,000 followers of Ram Rahim gathered in the town of Panchkula, where he was convicted.

Punjab and Haryana had ordered schools and colleges to remain shut, suspended cellphone services and beefed up security ahead of the court proceedings on Monday.