Sirsa

An Indian judge sentenced a self-styled "godman," whose followers went on a deadly rampage after he was convicted of rape last week, to 10 years' jail yesterday.

There were no reports of violence after Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was sentenced. Ten of thousands of police enforced a lockdown in large parts of the northern states of Haryana and Punjab where Singh, 50, has a mass following.

Thousands of supporters of a controversial Indian guru ended a tense standoff with soldiers yesterday, avoiding renewed violence after their leader's rape conviction sparked riots in which at least 36 people died.