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Indian court jails rapist 'godman' for 10 years amid tight security
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In this photo taken on August 27, 2017 followers of the controversial Indian guru Ram Rahim Singh walk outside the 'Dera Sacha Sauda' ashram in Sirsa. An Indian guru convicted of rape awaited sentencing on August 28, with authorities ramping up security amid fears of fresh violence days after protests over his guilty verdict left 36 dead. (Agence France -Presse/Money Sharma)
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n Indian court on Monday sentenced a controversial spiritual leader to 10 years in prison for raping two of his devotees, days after his followers went on a rampage that left 38 dead.
The riots broke out on Friday when Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, 50, was convicted of raping the two women at the sprawling headquarters of his hugely popular Dera Sacha Sauda sect in the northern state of Haryana.
A lawyer for the victims in the case, which dates back to 1999, confirmed Monday's sentence and said there could be dozens more cases of abuse involving women at the sect.
"We will file two appeals shortly. One for enhancement of the punishment and another for further investigation into the case," Utsav Singh Bains told AFP by phone.
"We believe there are at least 48 more victims who were sexually abused and who may have been killed or are too scared to come out and testify against Ram Rahim."
Bains said the prosecution wanted the court to jail Singh for life -- the maximum possible sentence for rape in India -- given that there were two victims and one was a minor.
Authorities have imposed a security clampdown on the city of Rohtak where Singh is being held due to fears of a repeat of Friday's violence, when tens of thousands of his supporters set fire to cars and clashed with security forces.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the violence but his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, which is also in power in Haryana, was criticised for failing to anticipate the riots.
Police were taking no chances Monday in Rohtak, where mobile internet has been cut, roads barricaded with barbed wire and soldiers deployed to man checkpoints.
More than 100 of Singh's senior loyalists have been placed in detention as a precautionary measure, said Rohtak police chief Navdeep Singh Virk.
He said his officers would use "whatever force is required" against the guru's devotees should they again resort to violence.
