19 More Accused Acquitted in '17 Panchkula Violence

CJM Highlighted Critical Gaps in the Prosecution's Evidence

- Brijender Gaur

PANCHKULA: A local Panchkula court on Wednesday acquitted 19 accused in a case related to the 2017 violent protests by followers of Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, citing "miserable failure" of the prosecution to prove charges beyond reasonable doubt.

The case stemmed from an FIR registered at Sector 5 police station on August 26, 2017, following violent clashes that erupted after the Dera Sacha Sauda chief's conviction. The controversial leader of the sect, who commands a large following in parts of Haryana and Punjab, was convicted by a special CBI court on August 25, 2017, in a rape case.

Approximately 200,000 supporters of Ram Rahim who had gathered in Panchkula ahead of the verdict began rioting after the decision was announced. At least 41 people were killed—32 of them in Panchkula alone, reportedly from police gunfire.