Godman vanishes police search on

Hisar: Police were unable to find Godman Rampal after they entered his fortified Satlok Ashram using teargas shells and bulldozers on Tuesday. The police gave Rampal’s devotees 30 minutes to vacate the “Satlok Ashram” in Barwala town or face firing. 

Rampal’s supporters, calling themselves ‘Baba’s commandos’, targeted the police with acid pouches, sticks and stones as a standoff brewing for 11 days boiled over. The police alleged that petrol bombs were also thrown at them. The town has been shut down.

Several devotees were injured and many of them were trying to climb the boundaries of Rampal’s Satlok Ashram in Barwala town. Policemen in riot gear and SWAT commandos were dragging away injured supporters. 

Rampal’s followers also threw stones at the police. According to reports, his supporters were firing at the police from inside the ashram.

The police swooped in a day after the Punjab and Haryana High Court ordered the government to arrest Rampal and produce him by Friday.

The spiritual leader has not been arrested for nearly two weeks, despite three arrest warrants.

Thousands of men, women and children have been staking out at the ashram for days. According to reports many disciples want to leave but were being prevented by lathi-wielding supporters of the ‘godman’ from leaving.

On Monday, a spotter plane was reportedly used for dropping pamphlets asking devotees to leave the ashram.

Rampal has skipped court 43 times in four years.

The state government argued in court on Monday that Rampal is unwell and cannot be arrested as his supporters could turn violent, but that did not wash with the judges who said sternly that “the will to arrest him is lacking.”

The 63-year-old spiritual guru is out on bail in a case in 2006 when his supporters opened fire on villagers, killing one and injuring several others in Rohtak. A group of lawyers has petitioned the court to cancel his bail after they were allegedly attacked by his supporters earlier this year.

The Haryana government has ordered the screening of all Delhi-bound vehicles to check the movement of Rampal’s followers, who have threatened to protest in the capital.