Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Wednesday defended his government’s decision to grant Z+ category security to convicted rapist and murderer Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, saying that it was the state’s responsibility to protect a prisoner whose life was in danger.

Commenting on the decision, Khattar told Republic, “Furlough is the right of every prisoner and security is the responsibility of the state. There are inputs regarding the threat to Ram Rahim, therefore security is being provided. Till the time threat prevails we will provide him the security. So far the threat is not over on Ram Rahim.”

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Ram Rahim, the chief of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect, was released from prison on a 21-day furlough on February 7, and India’s highest level of security cover was granted to the convict based on a report that claimed that the 54-year-old’s life was under threat from pro-Khalistan activists.

In fact, as per Republic, Haryana’s Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) had written to the Police Commissioner asking for additional security arrangements citing “serious threats” to Ram Rahim’s life.

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“Various alternatives for fortification of the place of residence and beefing up security by means of standing guards, mobile units, antisabotage check teams and more may be considered and the best course of action be taken,” the ADGP, who was not named, wrote in his letter.

Republic also reported that authorities considered setting up a committee comprising the Joint CP, Gurugram, DCP/East, Gurugram, and SP/Security to review Ram Rahim’s security arrangements on a weekly basis.

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The release of the Dera Sacha Sauda chief and the security cover provided to him ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections sparked questions about the government’s intentions, with the opposition hinting that the 54-year-old was released as his supporters held considerable sway in Punjab’s Malwa region. The Haryana government, however, has rubbished such claims saying that it is a prisoner’s right to get furlough.

Ram Rahim was convicted of raping two of his followers and was sentenced to 20 years in prison in 2017. The Dera Sacha Sauda chief was also sentenced to life imprisonment in 2018 for the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati. Three years later, in October 2021, a special CBI court also sentenced Ram Rahim and four others to life imprisonment for the murder of 19-year-old Dera Sacha Sauda manager Ranjit Singh.