Followers of a controversial Indian guru have started to withdraw from his 1,000‑acre compound in Sirsa, Haryana, after a tense stand‑off with soldiers.
Tens of thousands are still believed to be inside the headquarters of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect.
Some 38 people died and hundreds were injured in riots on Friday after their leader, Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, was convicted of raping two disciples.
Authorities fear more bloodshed could follow when he is sentenced tomorrow.
Police arrested some 2,500 of the guru's devotees after 200,000 flocked to the town of Panchkula to hear the verdict.
Some smashed cars and set media vans alight, insisting he was innocent.
Security forces were deployed to prevent further violence, and Hayana's state government ordered a search of all centres linked to the sect.
Source : BBC
