We want capital punishment for Ram Rahim: Chhatrapati's son

The son of Sirsa-based journalist Ram Chandra Chhatrapati, who was murdered by aides of convicted Dera Sacha Sauda sect chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh in 2002, on Friday demanded capital punishment for the disgraced self-styled godman.

After a special CBI court here convicted Ram Rahim and three others in the murder case of the journalist, his son Anshul Chhatrapati told media: "Such a man is not fit to live in our society. We demand that he should be given capital punishment."

"We were hoping for the past 16-17 years that we would get justice. We have got justice today after suffering for so long," Anshul said.

"We had to face a lot of difficulties and suffer a lot as he was very powerful. We thank the CBI team that investigated the case and supported us. This man should get the death sentence," said Anshul.

The CBI court will announce the quantum of punishment on January 17.

Chhatrapati was shot five times in October 2002 in Sirsa town, around 230 km from here, after he wrote about shady activities inside the sect headquarters near Sirsa in his vernacular local newspaper 'Poora Sach'.

Chhatrapati also published an anonymous letter, written by two female disciples of the sect chief, about their sexual exploitation and rape.

This had reportedly infuriated Ram Rahim who ordered his close aides to "silence" Chhatrapati. The journalist died in hospital in November 2002.

Ram Rahim remained a powerful sect head for nearly two decades mainly due to political patronage as he could influence the vote bank of his followers in Punjab and Haryana.

--IANS

js/prs