Fearing phone-tapping, Gurmeet Ram Rahim's adopted daughter Honeypreet Insan, Dera Sacha Sauda spokesperson Dr Aditya Insan among other fugitives have either dumped or switched their phones off.

According to sources in Haryana Police, the Dera aides are keeping in touch over chat applications like WhatsApp with new numbers that they seem to have acquired.

Haryana Home Secretary SS Prasad claims that it is due to such apps that Honeypreet and other delinquents remain untraced.

"We have information that Honeypreet Insan and others are using WhatsApp to exchange messages... That is what is delaying their arrest. There are many Dera followers on our radar, which is only making it difficult to raid the many locations... The allegations against the police that raid information is being leaked is baseless," S S Prasad added.

Police and security agencies usually track criminals by tapping their phones, thus leading them to their location, fearing which Dera aides have been very careful with using their cellphones.

Some reports suggest that a WhatsApp group was created just ahead of the final verdict in the twin-rape cases against Gurmeet Ram Rahim.

The group was not only used to exchange sensitive information but reportedly to plan and mastermind the arson and violence that enveloped the city of Panchkula and neighbouring areas in Punjab and Haryana.