Riots in India

Followers of a popular Hindu guru protested violently in the northern India city of Panchkula on Aug. 25, setting fire to cars and fighting with security forces, after he was convicted of two counts of rape, dating back to incidents in 2002. During the riots, at least 38 people were killed and more than 5,000 arrested, all believed to be followers of the guru. 

More than 200,000 of the guru’s followers went to Panchkula to witness the verdict. Smaller protests also occurred in the country’s capital, Delhi. 

The convicted guru founded a sect of Hinduism known as Dera Sacha Sauda, which has millions of followers.