Violence broke out yesterday after Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted in a rape case (AFP)

The Kurukshetra Police today sealed nine congregation centres of Dera Sacha Sauda in the district, evicted the followers of sect leader Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and seized over 2,500 lathis and other sharp-edged weapons during a search operation.After evicting the people, a large number of security personnel has been deployed outside the Dera Sacha Sauda's congregation centres to prevent violence."All the nine naam charcha ghars (congregation centres) in the district have been sealed and entry to these centres has been banned," Kurukshetra Superintendent of Police Abhishek Garg said.The move came after violence and arson broke out in Haryana following the conviction of self-styled godman Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh yesterday in a rape case by a CBI court in Panchkula.The police carried out search operations at the congregation centres during which they found more than 2,500 lathis and other sharp-edges weapons on the premises.

"We have recovered 2,500 lathis, some sharp-edged weapons and 2.5 litres of kerosene during the search operation. We have evicted all the followers from the congregation centres and locked all the nine naam charcha ghars in Kurkshetra," Mr Garg said.He said the situation in Kurukshetra was under control.