In a major jolt for Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, a subordinate court on Monday acquitted six persons accused in connection with the 2017 Panchkula violence case. The Sessions court judge let off the accused citing lack of evidence.
Violence had erupted in Panchkula last year in the wake of the conviction of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in two separate rape cases on August 25, 2017. The flare-up had left 41 dead and scores injured. The six persons were booked on various charges, including rioting and damage to public property and disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant. In May also, a court here had acquitted six followers of the sect accused of rioting charges in another related case of violence. Ram Rahim has been sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment and is currently lodged in Sunaria jail in Rohtak.