For the third time this week, India's judiciary did itself proud when it convicted self-styled spiritual guru Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh of rape on Friday.
The CBI court, which found Singh guilty of abusing at least two of his women followers, reinforced for many Indians their faith in the law, after the rulings on triple talaq and the right to privacy by the Supreme Court earlier this week.
But another kind of faith blinded hundreds of followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda, led by Singh, who took to the streets to protest against the verdict. In violent clashes with the police which took place over hours, at least 12 people are reportedly dead and hundreds are injured. The violence spilled over from Haryana into Punjab and Delhi as well.
That's not all.
Singh's enraged supporters have allegedly set fire a train in Delhi, burnt down buses, and attacked OB vans of television media. But as we take stock of the terrifying footage of destruction strewn over social media, the image that stands out most prominently is that of Singh, being ferried away in a helicopter, to a jail in Rohtak.
The VVIP treatment meted out to Singh should hardly surprise anyone, since he is already the beneficiary of Z+ category security, after attempts on his life. But the irony, in this context, appears to be glaring.
As scores are dying for the sake of their guru or getting wounded, the convicted rapist is being ferried in a chopper, with a privilege that few other criminals may enjoy, funded by the tax-payers' money. Incredible India, as they say.
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