Dera rampage: Situation peaceful in Punjab, Haryana

Barring a minor incident of torching a bus in Kurukshetra in Haryana, the situation in the violence-hit areas was by and arge peaceful, a senior official said today.

Security personnel conducted flag marches in sensitive areas in Punjab and Haryana following Saturday's violence by supporters of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh protesting against registration of a fresh murder case against him.

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The flag marches, aimed at instilling confidence among the people, were staged on Sunday evening by paramilitary forces, which were deployed in Moga and other affected towns including Ferozepur, Bathinda and Sangrur in Punjab and in Sirsa, Ambala and Fatehabad in Haryana.

Barring a minor incident of torching a bus in Kurukshetra in Haryana, the situation in the violence-hit areas was by and large peaceful, a senior official said on Monday.

The paramilitary forces and contingents of policemen in the two states maintained a tight vigil at the troubled spots
where the followers of the Dera chief had set afire trains and buses and damaged public property, he said.

"Those breaking the law and indulging in any act of vandalism or joining any demonstration which can disturb peace will be dealt with strictly," he said.

Though the situation was peaceful in Haryana, a stray incident of a bus being torched by some miscreants at Badondi village under Ladwa police station was reported.