Violence escalates in Hisar; 6 dead

Around 500 paramilitary personnel are being rushed to Haryana to deal with the law and order situation at Rampal’s ashram in Hisar even as the Intelligence Bureau has warned that there could be more violence if the police attempt to arrest the ‘godman’.

Responding to an urgent request of the Haryana Government, the Home Ministry has dispatched the personnel to assist the State police, which is facing violent resistance while trying to arrest Rampal. “We are mobilising the force from nearby areas and they will reach the spot soon,” a Home Ministry official said.

Meanwhile, in a report submitted to the Home Ministry, the Intelligence Bureau said the situation at Rampal’s ashram continues to be tense and “there is all likelihood of further violence in case police attempt to get the ashram vacated and arrest Rampal.”

“In view of apprehension of retaliation by the inmates of the ashram, there is need for police to tread cautiously,” it said.

The report said around 12,000 followers are still inside the ashram. Though the police issued an ultimatum to the inmates to vacate the ashram, many inmates have not relented and the standoff continues.

Ruling out any talks with Rampal, authorities mounted pressure on him as sedition and other serious charges were slapped against him and several of his followers while the bodies of four women were found in the ashram.

Besides this, a 20-year-old who was in a serious condition with a heart ailment, was rushed to a Hisar hospital at around 4 am, but died there four hours later. A one-and-a-half year old infant was declared as brought dead at the hospital as he was suffering from congenital jaundice. The infant belonged to Rewa district in Madhya Pradesh.

Haryana DGP SN Vashisht said Rampal is still inside the ashram and asserted that police will continue its “operation” till he is arrested for production before the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Friday in a contempt case.

Several followers, hailing from different parts of the country including UP, Rajasthan, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana and Madhya Pradesh, left the ashram through the day. Many of them recalled how they were prevented from leaving by the godman’s ‘private army’. Some of them said they had heard inside the ashram that Rampal was hiding in some bunker within the premises.

Police registered fresh cases last night against Rampal, ashram spokesman Raj Kapoor, another key functionary Purshottam Dass and several other followers. More sections would be added after fresh evidence comes up, the DGP said.

The fresh cases were filed after clashes broke out at the ashram between police and Rampal’s supporters, who allegedly resorted to firing and threw petrol bombs.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh today asked Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to bring about an early end to the standoff, amidst indications of unhappiness at the Centre about the way the issue is being handled by the State Government.