Update: 17 Dead And At Least 70 Injured As Dera Followers Riot After Ram Rahim's Rape Conviction

Hundreds of followers of self-styled spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh have gone berserk post the verdict that convicted the Dera chief of rape charges.

They charged at police barricades and media vans outside a court in Haryana’s Panchkula.

There are reports of violence in other cities in Punjab and Haryana. At least 17 are dead, and over 70 have been injured in the violence.

Five people dead in Panchkula violence, says duty doctor at civil hospital. #RamRahimSinghverdict

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) August 25, 2017

A petrol pump and part of a train station have reportedly been set on fire in Malaout in Punjab. There is curfew in the state’s Bhatinda town.

Amidst all this, the government’s official stance still maintains that everything is under control. This is after 600 army men have been deployed in order to tackle the situation.

Also Read: “Messenger Of God” Convicted Of Rape – All You Need To Know