THE DERA SACHA SAUDA CULT AND SOCIAL CRUSADE

INDIA – Dera Sacha Sauda translated “Camp True-Deal” is an Indian religious cult group and non-profit social welfare organisation which was established 29 April 1948 by Mastana Balochistani as a centre for religious learning

The main centre is situated in the city of Sirsa in Haryana state, northern India. “The organisation has 46 ashrams (divisions) across India and branches in countries such as the United States, Canada, United Arab Emirates, Australia and the United Kingdom”, says Wikipedia.

Its leader claims to have more than 60 million followers worldwide. There are allegations that about 400 followers of the sect have been castrated inside the sect’s headquarters to “bring them closer to god”.

“One of the castrated men was said to have filed a complaint in court against the guru.
According to India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the sect defended castrations as done to “safeguard female followers from possible sexual advances”.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, is the controversial leader of the sect. He has been accused of murder and convicted of rape in 25 August 2017.

Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was said to have formed a welfare and disaster relief organisation called Shah Satnam Ji Green-S Welfare Force. The organisation has 70,000 doctors, engineers, rescuers, paramedics and tradesmen.

“The organisation has rendered aid during many of India’s natural disasters like Kolkata fire and the factory collapse in Jalandhar”, Wikipedia has reported, adding during the 2013 flash floods in Uttarakhand, a team of volunteers and doctors provided medical care to people, distributed food packets and conducted rescue missions”.