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Indian guru jailed for 10 years over rape of two female followers

Indian spiritual guru who calls himself Saint Dr Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan
Indian spiritual guru who calls himself Saint Dr Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan Indian spiritual guru who calls himself Saint Dr Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh Ji Insan

A controversial Indian spiritual guru has been jailed for 10 years for raping two female followers.

The sentence was handed down amid intense security at a prison in the northern town of Rohtak where the guru, who calls himself Dr Saint Gurmeet Singh Ram Rahim Insan, has been held since his conviction on Friday.

The conviction sparked violent protests by the guru's followers that left at least 38 people dead and hundreds injured.

Ahead of the sentencing, train and bus services to Rohtak were suspended to prevent the guru's supporters from gathering in the town, located in Haryana state. A curfew was also imposed in Rohtak.

Local police said that several layers of security were in place around the prison and that government troops had permission to use firearms if any violence erupted.

The guru has denied raping the two followers, in a case that stems from charges filed in 2002.

He is also awaiting trial on a murder charge over the death of a journalist, and is under investigation by India's Central Bureau of Investigation over allegations of forcing several male followers to undergo castrations to bring them closer to God. He has denied the allegations.

Few details were immediately available following the sentencing, but the guru's lawyers can appeal the verdict to a higher court. The rape charges were investigated by the CBI and a special court convicted and sentenced the guru.

The minimum sentence for his crimes was seven years and the maximum was life in prison.

Security was high across Haryana and the neighbouring state of Punjab, with schools and offices shut in many places.

A curfew was also in place in Sirsa town, where the sprawling main headquarters of the guru's Sacha Sauda sect are located.

The sect claims to have about 50 million followers. Since Saturday, police have been asking followers to leave the ashram compound, and around 20,000 people have done so.

Local police spokesman Surjeet Singh said about 4,000 government troops, including army and paramilitary soldiers, were patrolling the small town and the area outside the ashram.