An Indian judge sentenced a self-styled "godman", whose followers went on a deadly rampage after he was convicted of rape last week, to 20 years' jail on Monday, but a shoot-to-kill order, curfew and heavy police presence kept protesters at bay.
A spokesman for the Central Bureau of Investigation, which investigated the case, said late on Monday that Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh would serve two consecutive 10-year-terms for the two rape convictions. Reuters and other media had earlier quoted government officials and lawyers as saying that the twin sentencing would run concurrently for 10 years.
Tens of thousands of police enforced a lockdown in large parts of the northern states of Haryana and Punjab where Singh, 50, has a mass following. Police in Haryana issued orders to shoot protesters on sight ahead of the sentencing and ordered the hearing to be carried out inside the prison where Singh was being held.
Hundreds of followers went on the rampage when he was convicted on Friday, attacking train stations, buses and television vans. At least 38 people were killed and more than 200 injured, triggering criticism that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling party, which also governs the state of Haryana, was either unable or unwilling to act against Singh's followers. The case dates back to 2002 when two women followers accused Singh of rape at the headquarters of his Dera Sacha Sauda organisation in the town of Sirsa.
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